ANDRE DIRRELL TKO5 ANTHONY HANSHAW

What a difference one fight can make. Andre Dirrell was roundly criticised for his ultra-careful performance in outpointing Curtis Stevens last June, but on Friday night he looked devastating in his fifth-round win over Anthony Hanshaw on ShoBox.

In a way Dirrell’s win reminded me a bit of Michael Nunn stopping Frank Tate. A lot of people who doubted Nunn — like Dirrell a flashy southpaw — became believers after the way he took apart Tate, who was thought by many as likely to be too tough for him.

Of course, Dirrell is not yet on the Michael Nunn type of level, but he could be on his way. He is a still-improving 24-year-old with huge potential. This was his 15th win in a row but after perhaps another year of seasoning he should be ready to fight for one of the 168-pound titles.

Although Friday’s fight was essentially even-money, what struck me immediately was that Dirrell looked much the bigger and stronger man. I never thought he would be able to manhandle Hanshaw the way that he did.

After weathering an early assault, Dirrell took over the fight in round two and never looked back. Although a southpaw he seemed to box equally as well in the orthodox stance. His left jabs were stiff, and discouraging to his opponent, but I agreed with commentators Nick Charles (well deserved winner of the Boxing Writers’ Association broadcasting excellence award) and Steve Farhood that Dirrell looked more lethal as a lefty.

Ronnie Shields, in Hanshaw’s corner, urged him to keep pressing Dirrell — “Don’t give him no room!” — but as early as the third the fight was basically over. Dirrell hammered Hanshaw with left hands from the southpaw posture, hurting him and stopping his attacks before they could get started. When Dirrell showboated and grinned in the third, staying on the ropes and inviting Hanshaw to hit him, it was not the sort of thing I like to see in a young fighter. However, being treated with such disdain must have been devastating psychologically for Hanshaw.

Although Hanshaw managed to bloody Dirrell’s nose with his jabs and right hands he was suffering the greater punishment. Dirrell’s hand speed was spectacular, punches flashing to the target as is from out of nowhere — hard shots, too.

Down in the fourth and his nose streaming blood, Hanshaw was clearly not going to last much longer. Dirrell was throwing him around when the wobbly Hanshaw tried to hang on, and another knockdown followed by a barrage of punches in the fifth brought matters to a conclusion.

Seated on his corner stool afterwards, Hanshaw looked like a man who didn’t know what had hit him. I would imagine that other fighters will be feeling the same way after sharing the ring with this improved and powerful version of Dirrell.