Newark Boxer Chad Sugden drew with Craig Richards last night in a light-heavyweight bout at London’s York Hall screened on Sky Sports.
The higher ranked Crystal Palace born Richards (Britain’s no4) with 15 wins and 1 defeat from his previous sixteen fights was favourite but Sugden with a 11-1 pre-fight record came into the contest widely tipped by those close to him to cause an upset.
Originally the 25 year old Newark boxer was set to face Ben Thomas on Saturday night before the chance arose to take on Richards coming in at late notice and the Suggy’s Gym fighter got off to a cracking start in the contest on the undercard of the Richard Riakporhe v Jack Massey fight.
Sugden, a former kick boxer started aggressively but was bloodied by a heavy right by Richards in the second before landing hooks to both body and head of Richards in the third.
After more success for Sugden in the fifth the hometown fighter Richards had the better in the sixth with a final round of trading blows with both fighters refusing to buckle under pressure.
Sugden said after the fight “tonight he might have edged it but I believe I nicked some of the closer rounds with my speed, he landed some eye catching shots in there and I don’t believe that was the best of me tonight”
Sugden said “I’ve fought all over the world kick boxing and this is the toughest guy I’ve thought and I’ll love to do it again”.
Chad’s brother Regis Sugden who’s also converted from kick boxer to boxing is to fight Kevin McCauley in Birmingham on Saturday night. 24 year old Regis has so far won all four of his pro fights and takes on a boxer who aged 40 has lost 201 bouts having won 15 in a busy career since making his pro debut in 2008.
*Main image @SkySports Sugden draws with Richards at York Hall.
