ANTHONY SMALL vs SAM WEBB

Old amateur rivals meet on Friday when Anthony Small defends his British and Commonwealth light-middleweight title against Sam Webb, with Sky Sports televising.

Webb, 28, defeated Small on points in the Southeast London amateur championships in 2003 and 2004, when both were welterweights. It seems that Webb was the more highly regarded of the two in the amateurs. He boxed internationally for England, including a meeting with Andre Dirrell, who outscored him in November 2002.

That was then, this is now. Small, 28, is much the more experienced boxer as a professional and has fought in the bigger fights.

Webb is a busy, boxer-fighter type who seems to me to be at his best when he is putting pressure on opponents and letting his hands go in combinations. His most significant win came when he outhustled the tall, rangy Thomas McDonagh in a British title eliminator 10 months ago. In a close bout, Webb simply fought harder. His only loss came when he was cut over the right eye in his fifth bout.

Small was impressive when he stopped Matthew Hall in the eighth round to become British champion, but he had a struggle against McDonagh in his last fight and needed a strong finish to eke out the win.

There is no disputing Small’s ability but he might be one of those fighters who can be erratic. He blew rounds against McDonagh, trying to land one big punch at a time and missing wildly, and in a dreary fight, with frequent clinches.

It looked as if McDonagh was poised to pull off the upset, only for Small to start attacking with greater urgency in the last few rounds.

In the end Small won it on greater strength and punching power, but he had a close call.

If he boxes as badly as this on Friday then there is a real chance that he will lose, I think that Webb’s crowd-pleasing way of fighting might suit Small, who could have success with counter punches.

Small seems to be the sort of boxer who is capable of being disappointing one night and dazzling on another night. Although considered cocky he has expressed respect for Webb, as well he should seeing that he twice lost to his fellow-Londoner.

This should be an entertaining, well-contested bout, but Small looks a bit more talented and he seems to be the puncher in the fight. I think that Small should be able to win, with a possibility of a stoppage towards the end of the fight although this might depend on which version of Small shows up — the good one or the not-so-good.