Berry made to work for win by Mexican

Berry poses for the cameras after victory over rugged Lopez

RUGGED Mexican Erick Omar Lopez’ performance against Nyall Berry underlined why he’s only suffered one stoppage loss in 52 fights.

The sawn-off former world ranked operator was cagey, and dangerous. At Chase Leisure Centre on Saturday, Chelmsley Wood’s English super-bantam champ had to remain switched-on for the entire six rounds.

Nyall won widely – 59-55 on Ryan Churchill’s card – but it was no cakewalk for the big hitter. As he told me on exiting the ring: “That man’s more than tough.”

Tough and dangerous. Lopez set traps with his back to the ropes, luring Berry into clusters of shots. Some got through, with Nyall (9st) caught by left hooks in the second.

The Birmingham lad remained disciplined against an opponent who fought in bursts, kept his gloves high and incessantly worked his opponent’s body. He buried shots to the body, then blocked the flurries that came back.

Against a man who attacked in bursts, Berry showed good head movement, refused to get carried away and reckless after landing hard shots. He worked for his win.

By the fourth, Nyall was unloading significant shots, a hard left hook bounced off Lopez’ head and, in a rare lapse, the Guadalajaran veteran walked into a right hand.

Heeding the warning signs, Lopez (8st 13lbs) used the ring more in the fifth and sixth as Berry pressed forward.

Bigger things await Nyall. He was given the perfect tune-up by Lopez.