Fight Camp: Week 2 overview and results

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Fight Camp returned for its second week on Friday evening with a history-making all-British Women's title fight

Week 2 of Matchroom's Fight Camp saw Former team GB star Natasha Jonas take on WBC world champion Terri Harper in the first-ever all-British women's title fight.

Jonas went in as the heavy underdog, with many writing her off based on how each fighter faired against mutual former opponent Viviane Obenauf. However, styles make fights, and we suspected Jonas was more than capable of upsetting the odds.

Elsewhere on the card Cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith quickly dispatched of an overmatched  Nathan Thorley, Featherweight prospect Hopey Price impressed against a very game Jonny Phillips and Anthony Fowler had it all his way against Adam Harper.

Taking note of feedback from fans and fighters, Matchroom omitted the background 'crowd noise' that had been present throughout the broadcast on week 1 and sat the commentators inside what looked like a soundproof box in a bid to prevent the fighters and judges from hearing them -  an absolute must after Sam Eggington's team complained of being able to hear every word they spoke.

Here's how the action unfolded on the night -

Chris Billam-Smith (10 - 1) vs Nathan Thorley (14 - 0) - Cruiserweight

Winner - Billam-Smith (KO round 2)
A look at the records of each fighter might suggest that this would have been a competitive match-up, but Billam-Smith had Thorley looking outgunned from the opening bell.

Billam-Smith's shots looked heavy and hurtful, while Thorley looked out of his depth and was able to offer little in return.

After taking a knee late in the first and early in the second, Thorley finally found a home for his right hand and, perhaps overestimating its effect on Billam-Smith, began to open up. Billam-Smith, still fully in control, calmly walked Thorley into a perfectly timed right hand that dropped him for the third and final time.

Though Thorley was able to get to his feet, the referee had seen enough and called an end to it.

Hopey Price (2 - 0) vs Jonny Phillips (5-4) - Featherweight

Winner - Price (60 - 54)
20-year-old prospect Hopey Price took his record to 3 - 0 with a measured and classy victory over the very lively Jonny Phillips.

This was one of the better fights on the undercard, with Phillips making the young southpaw work for his win.

Phillips certainly had no intentions of being fodder for Price, coming out like a raging bull, full of belief that his experience and ragged style would be enough to offset Price and spring the upset.

Price showed great maturity for such a young fighter, sticking to his boxing, landing at distance and tying Phillps up when he managed to bulldoze his way inside.

Phillps had run out of ideas by the third, and though he continued to charge forward it was clear that Price had his number. Price, by this point, had found his rhythm and was able to slip any of Phillips' wild shots, peppering him at range and coasting to a comfortable yet hard-fought victory.

Anthony Fowler (12-1) vs Adam Harper (9-1) - Superwelterweight

Winner - Fowler (TKO round 7)
A dominant performance from Fowler who was looking huge at the weight.

Aside from being penalised for some borderline low-blows, Fowler had everything his own way, bullying harper with heavy, spiteful combinations from the opening bell.

Harper was tough, perhaps too tough and managed to survive until the 7th but that's all he'd been doing - surviving, and after taking another heavy combination on the ropes referee Ian John-Lewis finally put him out of his misery - something that his cornermen probably should have done a few rounds prior.

Terri Harper (10 - 0) vs Natasha Jonas (9 - 1)  - Super Featherweight

Draw - (96-94, 96-95 and 95-95)
With Harper being 13 years the younger fighter, the world Champion and having dismantled the woman who stopped Jonas, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was going to be a relative walk in the park for the Denaby fighter, but those who wrote Jonas off will be eating their words today.

This was like Eggington vs Cheeseman all over again - an incredibly close fight fought largely in the pocket with non-stop back and forth.

While Jonas landed the more eye-catching shots, Harper's work-rate was phenomenal, making sure that she equalised every time Jonas landed.

In the 8th Jonas scored with a beautiful left followed by a short right that rocked Harper and had her wanting to hold. For a moment it looked as though Jonas could be on the verge of securing a stoppage win but again Harper came firing back and finished the round well.

When the bell rang the feeling from the commentary box was that Jonas had done enough, and her corner clearly felt so too.

When David Diamante read out the scorecards, the fight had 'draw' written all over it, with the first two awarding them one apiece. Card 3 confirmed our suspicions, scoring it 95 - 95.

Nobody ever wants to see a draw in boxing, but in certain cases (this being one of them), a draw just can't be argued with.

Jonas will be deeply disappointed not to have been given the nod, but her stock will have risen drastically from this performance and she will no doubt be feeling rather pleased to have silenced her critics.

For Harper, who admitted post-fight to having underestimated her opponent, this will have been a great learning experience in a career that is still in its early stages. She'll be pleased to have retained her belts, albeit disappointed not to have done so in a more decisive fashion.

Let's hope we get to see this one again!

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