RESILIENT NAPA DEFEATED AFTER 12 ROUNDS

THE European bantamweight title fight between Hackney’s Ian Napa and Italian champion Simone Maldruttu may have lasted the full 12 rounds, but the result was never really in doubt, writes Jasper Wenban-Smith.

At a packed Goresbrook Centre in Dagenham on Friday, Maldruttu secured a victory on points by unanimous decision against the local hopeful, 117-112, 117-112, and 116-113.

But 28-year-old Napa showed heart in defeat after a bad start, which had seen him on the canvas after just four rounds.

Measuring in at just 5’1”, Napa was by far the smaller man but he rallied well, putting together fast punch combinations and dodging effectively as he sought to claw back the deficit from his lacklustre beginning.

By the seventh round, it looked as if an upset might be on the cards as Maldruttu’s nose began to feel the impact of Napa’s continued badgering.

But any hopes the Zimbabwean native might have had of winning the title, and becoming Hackney’s most successful boxer of all time, were unceremoniously dashed in the final rounds.

Maldruttu, defending his title for the seventh time, reasserted himself well, making his punches count and putting the fight beyond contention. The victory was the Italian’s 25th win in 26 fights.

This was Napa’s fourth unsuccessful attempt at a significant title since turning professional nine years ago.

After the fight, he said: “It was a good fight and all credit to the guy. I was at him for the whole 12 rounds but he’s a good fighter.”