Dunne criticised for lack of aggression in Mora fight

BERNARD DUNNE has been warned by one of boxing’s leading analysts to return to his attacking instincts if he is to fulfil his ambition of claiming a world featherweight crown.

The Los Angeles-based Irish fighter took his unbeaten record to 13 on Friday night in San Diego, California, with an unanimous points victory over journeyman Pedro Mora, his fourth by judges’ decision in succession having racked up eight knockout wins in his first nine professional contests.

In allowing Mora to last the distance in a fight televised live across the United States and with another live TV date pencilled in for August 14 on the Showtime channel, Dunne drew criticism from respected corner man and ESPN’s ringside analyst Teddy Atlas for sitting on his talents and being too conservative. Dunne, a self-proclaimed natural warrior, was continuing his objective worked out with trainer Freddie Roach, to become more disciplined in the ring and less prone to mistakes which could blemish his record as he climbs the rankings towards a title fight.

Against Mora, Dunne once again concentrated on boxing clever and keeping his composure, resisting the urge to go for a knockout.

Dunne out-boxed Mora for three rounds before finally sending Mora to the canvas in the fourth with a stinging right to the chin. He failed to finish the Mexican off, though, and Mora actually took the next round on two judges’ scorecards before Dunne closed out the fight to win 60-53, 59-54, 59-54.

The performance earned a mixed review from Atlas, who likened the Irishman’s style to three-time former world champion Johnny Tapia, who won titles at super flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight.

“He reminds me of a young Johnny Tapia,” Atlas said. “He likes to box and he likes that quick left hook to the body which Johnny used so well before going up to the head.”

But the man who schooled a young Mike Tyson under the wing of legendary trainer Cus D’Amato said: “I think Dunne said to himself coming into that fight, ‘you know what? I’m going to make the most of my television time; I’m not going to look for a knockout, I’m going to let the people see me for a little while’.

“The danger in stretching out and getting those rounds under his belt, getting more TV time, is that he is not representing himself as an exciting prospect.” If a boxer was not exciting for viewers there was a danger they would not be invited back, he said.