Jane Couch vs. Sharon Anyos: The Tale of the Fight by Les Anyos – Father & Manager of Anyos

(NOV 08, 1999)  G’Day from Down under……. Here are the happenings that had to be contended with in England.     What a Debacle! No sense going into the week leading up to the World Title Bout between Sharon Anyos (Australia) V Jane Couch (UK). I’ve been in the Fight Game a long, long time. As I attempted pre-fight preparation, I was confronted by a B.B.B.C. Official to tell me that NO Padding or Bandage is allowed on the Female Fighters Knuckles, this confused me somewhat, I did not see the sense of using any Bandage after that, I was then handed some Masking Tape to use (where? I’m still not sure).

Courtesy photos:  Team Sharon Anyos

The B.B.B.C. Official witnessed the whole proceeding of so called Strapping Up. I was then presented with a pair of very old 10oz Boxing Gloves (World Title Fight). These things Absolutely Stank – Morale was slipping. Twenty minutes to go and another British Official enters the change room – Compulsory Drug Test this will only take 15 minutes for the sample to be taken and all the questions to be answered and all these forms to be filled out by the Fighter (who is by now gloved up as required by the British Boxing Board of Control).

Morale slipping further Anger setting in. I ask the B.B.B.C. Representative if this is all that is required of my Fighter, is her outfit complete – That’s Great ! Good Luck ! See you in the Ring. Too late for pre Fight Psyche time to go – Big Crowd, Big Announcements NO National Anthem (Women Fighters aren’t Worthy of that, Hell its Only Sheila’s Fighting!!) Announcements Finished – Referee says you don’t have a Breast Protector or a Groin Guard, I say we just got the ALL CLEAR from the Official in the Change Rooms – Besides we don’t use them in our Country only by choice.

A load of Officials and Doctors enter the Fray and say the Fight can’t go on – out of the Ring into the Change Room – we are handed 2 x 1/4 inch Foam Rubber Pads (Breast Protectors) and a Cricket Box Type Groin Guard – (as in Jock Strap) Designed to Protect the Testicles ONLY – Female British Doctor says that’s Great off you go now and Fight.

FIGHT BEGINS (Morale as Low as one could get – Anger Overtaking Fight Plan). Breast Protector slips out during First Round at a rate of 4 Times – by the Fourth Round The Referee says if they slip out one more time my Fighter will be Disqualified (Patience is Paper Thin).

The Rounds go on Sharon Slips on wet Logo on the Canvas – Asks to have the Water Wiped up is promptly Told to Behave herself or be Disqualified.

By Round Nine one of the Boxing Commissioners enters Thobela’s Change Room – Tells the Fighter to be Ready, the South African Crew enquire on the Fight Progress and are told by the Official – QUOTE:- The Aussie Girl is well ahead on points but she won’t get the decision – Isn’t it Sad!

I haven’t gone into the Fight Detail as what you see is what you get! The Promoter runs up to me after the Decision is handed down says the Scoring is wrong – The British Press Printed Details of all the Fights except Sharon & Jane’s or Dingan & Cornelius’s – I was told a rematch has been asked for by Ron Scalf and the Promoters – I asked for an Independent Country or Judges at Least – The Verdict South Africa – January. We are not Griping just saying how it was – Come on Pom’s pick your act up and Come On Jane Lets do it for Real out of your Playground.

Jane didn’t get the Courtesy of a Victory Speech following the Decision as the Booing of the Crowd was too Intense.

As for the Officials they should perhaps be Educated to a Standard of having SOME Boxing Knowledge or the Promoters of Boxing in England some of whom, namely Jonathan Feld who is trying to give the Sport of Women’s Boxing an Equal Chance will find themselves without the Benefit of Promoting the most Popular form of Pugilism in the World Today.

Following this Fight a Journalist entered our Change Area which was in a Women’s Powder Room and housing all the Female Dance Groups of the evening, Ring Card Girls etc. The Journo asked if Sharon really did send Jane a pair of Black Frilly Knickers which Jane evidently produced at a Press Conference even before we were notified of the Fight going ahead. Wishful Thinking Jane!

As to the Scoring everyone sees things in a different light but a standard must be set to enable judges to be able to score what and when they see it on a universally accepted level especially for World Title Fights and National Bodies must also be seen to be held accountable to the decisions they make – After all that I believe the British Boxing Board of Control may not be in existence in 12 months.

So let’s set up a World Body and take the lead – so we all know where we stand in our chosen Sport of Boxing..

Fight report by James Clifford, who was “Behind the Scenes”!

In the best fight of the night, Jane Couch moved down to lightweight and unanimously out-pointed Australia’s Sharon “Wild Thing” Anyos over 10 x 2 minute rounds for the WBF title. In an all-action bout, Couch’s superior ring craft and boxing technique proved to be the decisive factors in overcoming Anyos’ relentless aggression.

The pace and intensity was frantic as Anyos worked aggressively to get inside Couch’s reach and land telling blows, Couch who started her career as a brawler type fighter showed the dividends of her boxing training regime under Tex Woodward’s her Manager / Trainer.

Shaking off the ring rust (Couch’s last fight was 1st April 1999) from the opening rounds when Couch was experiencing problems measuring the distance for punches to quell Anyos’ attacks, Couch took over in the middle rounds using a variety of well timed uppercuts, straight rights and effective jabs to pull ahead.

Going into the last round in a closely fought bout, both fighters displayed tremendous conditioning and desire to win with Anyos probably feeling that she needed a big round to sway the decision managing to back Couch up at times.  The scores of the judges were unanimous but varied:  John Coyle 99-92;  Terry O’Connor 98-94;  and Larry O’Connell (Of Holyfield V Lewis fame) 96-95.

Ringside commenting for the TV was former WBO Middleweight and Super-Middleweight champion Steve Collins.

In his first time watching women’s boxing live Collin’s was very impressed by the bout and remarked that the decision could have gone the other way in Anyos’ favour but Couch managed to pull it out with her superior technique.

Also commentating for Bravo Cable TV, Claude Abrams Editor of respected fight paper “Boxing News” had started the evening very skeptical about women’s boxing, after the bout he was very complimentary stating that “…if that had been a men’s fight we would have been talking about it for months….and I don’t think we should treat these girls any different”.I spoke with world famous Manager / promoter Mickey Duff he believed it was a great contest and Couch was fortunate to get the decision.

Jane’s trainer Tex Woodward said: “I had no doubt about the final verdict but all-action Sharon caused a few problems. Jane solved them well”.  Sharon Anyos probably learnt more in defeat than her other three victories combined and proved not only is she the “Wild thing” but also the real thing she’s certainly championship material.

Anyos’ style parallels that of Couch’s earlier fights, where as now Couch can now box and brawl, Anyos can a note from Couch’s book and needs to work on her boxing technique and ring craft.  James Clifford