Alfred Cole vs Glenn McCrory

Alfred “Al” Cole retained the IBF world cruiserweight championship by defeating Britain’s Glenn McCrory over 12 rounds at the CSKA Universal Sports Hall in Moscow on 16 July 1993. Cole won by unanimous decision after controlling most of the contest and knocking the former champion down twice in the sixth round. The promotion was historically notable as the first recognised world championship fight staged in Russia, although the contest proved a difficult, largely one-sided final assignment for McCrory.

Cole entered as a tall, physically strong champion who had won the vacant IBF title from James Warring in July 1992 and retained it against Uriah Grant the following February. He had lost only once as a professional and was making the second defence of his championship. At six feet four inches, the American possessed the height and reach to box from outside, but he was also willing to press forward and use his weight at close quarters. McCrory was attempting to regain the belt he had held from 1989 until Jeff Lampkin knocked him out in 1990. He had since moved to heavyweight, where Lennox Lewis stopped him in two rounds, before returning to cruiserweight for one last championship campaign.

McCrory had trained seriously for the opportunity and reduced to the cruiserweight limit with the assistance of a nutritionist. He believed that the division remained his natural territory if the weight was made correctly. His recent form included a second-round stoppage of Ric Lainhart and a ten-round decision over Mark Young, but at 28, he had already endured a long and uneven career. Cole was the fresher man and had become accustomed to working through 12-round championship contests.

The opening rounds established the physical nature of the match. McCrory attempted to box from range and use his own height, but Cole was not prepared to surrender the centre of the ring. The champion advanced behind straight punches, forced McCrory backwards and repeatedly drove him towards the ropes and corners. McCrory tried to answer while moving and occasionally stood his ground, but Cole’s punches carried greater force, and his pressure prevented the challenger from developing a settled rhythm.

Cole’s method was direct rather than elaborate. He used the jab to close the distance, then brought the right hand through as McCrory retreated. When the challenger reached the ropes, Cole leaned upon him and worked with short punches to the head and body. McCrory remained willing and attempted to trade his way clear, but he was spending too much of each round reacting to the champion’s attack. The American’s greater strength became increasingly evident as he pushed McCrory backwards during the exchanges and denied him the room required for effective counter-punching. Contemporary reports described Cole as dominating the fight and repeatedly slamming his challenger against the ropes or forcing him into the corners.

The decisive action came in the sixth round. Cole increased the pressure and caught McCrory with a succession of heavy punches, sending him to the canvas for the first knockdown. The Briton rose but had not recovered his balance or clear control of his legs. Cole followed without hesitation, driving him back and dropping him for a second time before the end of the round. McCrory regained his feet and survived, but he remained unsteady and was saved from further immediate punishment by the bell.

McCrory’s survival demonstrated the courage which had carried him through a difficult professional career, but the knockdowns removed any realistic prospect of taking the championship. He continued through the remaining rounds and attempted to make Cole work, yet the champion remained in command. Cole could box behind the jab when distance opened and was strong enough to control the close exchanges when McCrory tried to press. The challenger was never able to reverse the direction of the contest or produce the sustained attack needed to disturb Cole’s confidence.

The fight completed the full 12 rounds, with Cole receiving the unanimous verdict. Surviving reports do not provide the three judges’ numerical totals, but there was no serious dispute concerning the winner. The two sixth-round knockdowns strengthened a performance in which Cole had already controlled the ring, landed the heavier punches and forced McCrory to fight much of the night from defensive positions. The champion improved his record to 23 victories and one defeat and continued an IBF reign which would eventually include five successful defences.

For McCrory, the defeat brought his professional career to an end. He retired with 30 victories, eight defeats and one draw, having won the British, Commonwealth and IBF cruiserweight championships. His return to the division had produced another world-title opportunity, but Cole was too fresh, too strong and too consistent over the championship distance. McCrory had shown sufficient resilience to reach the final bell after twice being dropped, though the result left no uncertainty about the difference between them on the night.