Constantin Ursu Stops Ben Vaughan to Retain Titles

Constantin Ursu retained his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles when Ben Vaughan was withdrawn with a severe cut over his right eye three seconds into the eighth round at London’s O2 Arena.

The official verdict was an eighth-round technical knockout, although the injury which brought proceedings to an end had been caused by an accidental clash of heads in the fifth. Vaughan had survived two examinations by the ringside doctor before referee Michael Alexander finally accepted medical advice that enough was enough. It was a sensible decision. Courage is a useful commodity in boxing, but it remains difficult to hit anyone when one cannot see him.

Ursu, the unbeaten Moldovan southpaw based in Plymouth, advanced his record to 16-0 with seven stoppages. Vaughan dropped to 12-3, having provided a more persistent challenge than the ending or the champion’s growing command might suggest. The victory represented Ursu’s first defence of the British championship he won from Owen Cooper in February and further strengthened his position among Britain’s emerging welterweights.

Vaughan began with considerable purpose, advancing behind a high guard and attempting to smother the champion’s longer punches. Both men boxed southpaw, removing some of the usual geometrical complications, but the challenger’s pressure initially prevented Ursu from establishing the range he wanted. Vaughan worked towards the body whenever he could get close, while Ursu spent rather too much of the opening exchanges striking gloves and forearms.

The difference in speed and accuracy became more apparent during the second and third rounds. Ursu began moving laterally before stabbing out the right jab, then driving his straight left through the middle when Vaughan followed in square. He could lead or counter with equal comfort, whereas Vaughan’s attacks became increasingly dependent upon wide hooks which the champion saw coming and usually took on his gloves.

Ursu also discovered a home for the left hand downstairs. One particularly sharp blow in the third made Vaughan pause, after which the champion turned towards the challenger’s corner and offered a few words of his own. It was unnecessary theatre, perhaps, but boxers have seldom required much encouragement to admire their handiwork.

Vaughan continued marching forward in the fourth and landed to the body when Ursu remained still for too long. A broad hook to the head also got through, drawing an exaggerated shake of the champion’s head. That ancient gesture generally confirms that a punch has landed rather than proving otherwise. Vaughan was nevertheless breathing heavily, and swelling developed beneath his left eye.

The contest changed decisively in the fifth. An accidental meeting of heads opened a deep wound above Vaughan’s right eye, leaving blood running down the side of his face. The challenger reached his corner, shook his head, and was examined before the sixth, but the doctor permitted him to continue.

Ursu immediately tested the damaged area with fast combinations. His right jab set the target, and the straight left followed, either to the head or driven beneath Vaughan’s elbows. The challenger remained willing and tried to drag Ursu into close quarters, but his vision was plainly compromised, and the champion was now finding openings with increasing ease.

The seventh was Vaughan’s most uncomfortable round. Ursu attacked with both hands, varied his punches between head and body and moved away before the challenger could answer effectively. Growing in confidence, he even kissed his gloves after one successful passage. Such flourishes can look rather foolish when a man is losing, but Ursu was in no immediate danger of that.

Vaughan returned to his corner with the wound still bleeding heavily. The doctor inspected it once more before the eighth and this time advised that the contest should be stopped. Alexander waved it off almost immediately, bringing an unfortunate but inevitable conclusion to a brave challenge. The British Boxing Board of Control recorded the result as an eighth-round TKO.

No official scorecards were required, although one ringside tally had Ursu winning each of the first six rounds. That was less generous to Vaughan than his early effort deserved, but the champion had unquestionably taken control before the cut intervened.

Ursu remains a work in progress rather than the finished article. He can become too pleased with his own punches and is occasionally willing to absorb one while preparing several in reply, a habit which may prove expensive against sharper opposition. Yet his balance, variety and composure were impressive, and at 26 he has ample time to correct those indulgences.

Vaughan deserved sympathy but not invention. The cut denied him the opportunity to finish the contest, though Ursu was already pulling away and appeared increasingly likely to retain his titles by one route or another. The champion passed another examination; the challenger left with his reputation for courage intact, if rather less skin above his right eye.