Ringside Report by Brendan Galbraith – An undercard packed with top home grown talent, and in the main good competitive matches, provided an entertaining preamble to the main event of Lindsay-Arthur.
Gary Davies (121 ½ Ilbs) had a noticeable swagger, brimming with bad intentions, as he entered the ring to face former British Super Flyweight Champion Andy Bell (124 Ilbs). Davies, also a former British Title holder, commenced matters by immediately looking to land power right hooks.. In the second minute of the first round, Davies got through with a hard right, connecting to the side of Bell’s head – dropping the Doncaster man. Bell returned to his feet and bravely continued, but was soon dispensed to the canvas again, this time with a vicious chopping right to the chin. This was a heavy knockdown and although Bell tried to recover to his feet with the use of the ropes – he was in no condition to continue. At 2.39 in the first, referee Phil Edwards called the fight off. Davies, was the pick of the performances in the under card and now progresses to 10-3-1 – back on track in his surge for a renewed attempt for another British Title.
David Price (248 Ilbs) pleased his vocal legion of fans by recording a second consecutive first round stoppage by twice flooring Martyn Grainger (215 Ilbs). Grainger, who entered the ring looking visibly nervous was easily halted by the 6ft 8” former Olympic medallist, getting floored for the first knock-down with a cuffing left shot and then in the second, and final knock-down, with a left-handed body shot. Referee, Phil Edwards called it off after only 40 seconds, a gulf in class, height and a deficit of 33Ilbs in weight all contributing factors to this early stoppage. Price, advances to 5-0, and the Liverpudlian heavyweight star prospect will enviably be moved up in class in his upcoming bouts.
Manchester light-welterweight prospect, Karl Place (141 Ilbs) scored an early 2nd round TKO against the tough, muscular Steve Saville (141 ¼ Ilbs) in an all-action duel. Saville, who in his last fight was stopped in two rounds by top prospect Frankie Gavin, traded with Place in the opening round and had some success, piercing Place’s guard to bloody his opponents’ nose. Place, who was perhaps over keen to put on a show for his impressive army of fans, showed glimpses of his boxing prowess in the first with excellent quick-handed body and head combinations. In the second, Place settled into his rangy boxing, and in contrast to his over-zealous opening round, he picked off Saville with beautiful right hooks, body shots and a right uppercut which all contributed to bring the Wolverhampton man to the canvas. The referee called the fight off as Saville shook his head, clearly still reeling from the hurtful shots that he had taken. Place, looks like an excellent young prospect showcasing impressive speed, power and accuracy. However, the one cautionary footnote is that he will need to show more defensive discipline and work behind his clever rangy boxing as he steps up in class going forward.
The taller, rangy boxer John Watson (140 Ilbs) out pointed Ben Murphy (141 ½ Ilbs) 59-56 in this competitive six-rounder. Murphy, keen to avoid Watson’s significant reach advantage as he stepped forward with his onslaught was soon warned by referee, Steve Gray, for the use of head. The first half of the fight was fairly competitive with Watson shading rounds 1 and 3 and Murphy’s best work occurring in the third – courtesy of successful raids to the body and blocking Watson’s counters with a tight defence. From the fourth round, Watson assumed control and the action warmed up, with Murphy sustaining a busted and bloody nose – a result of a piercing straight right. Watson continued to dominate the brave challenge of Murphy in the 5th and 6th, imposing his rangy boxing style and comfortably sidestepping Murphy’s arsenal.
British Flyweight Champion, Shinny Bayar (114 ¼ Ilbs) marginally avoided an upset loss to Najah Ali (116 Ilbs) with a narrow 58-57 points win. Bayar who is scheduled face unbeaten Ashley Sexton in a British Title challenge on the 14th May, will have to show a dramatic improvement if he is to hold on to his title. For much of the fight Bayar was throwing and missing inaccurate single leads and often got tagged with left leads and body shots. Bayar ended the fight by shading the last two rounds with better eye-catching shots towards the end of each round, but overall, he did not dominate any of the rounds and Ali could have arguably had a good case for a draw.
Heavyweights David Ferguson (229 ¼ Ilbs) and Paul Morris (202 ¼ Ilbs) fought a competitive four rounder with Ferguson prevailing in a 39-37 points win. Morris, from the outset was attempting a dangerous game of cat and mouse, by avoiding the significantly heavier Ferguson shots whilst, infrequently as it happened, attempting to raid with his own. In the first, Morris sustained a bloody nose and matters worsened when he was wobbled by a heavy big right hand in the second. Excellent corner work by trainer, Oliver Harrison offered continuous calming instructions throughout, urging his charge to ‘hit and move’, stay clear of the ropes and “work behind his jab”. Ferguson scored the better shots and comfortably took the first three rounds. The fourth was Morris’ best session as he landed good scoring combinations. However, this late surge was too little too late and at the end the referee raised Ferguson’s hand.
Rick Godding (145 ½ Ilbs) scored a shutout 60-54 points win over William Warburton (148 ½) in an impressive boxing display to whet the appetite for his upcoming clash with Curtis Woodhouse on the 25th April. Godding eased into the fight with good scoring right leads and body shots – nicking the opener. In the second, Warburton continued to be competitive but found Godding too allusive. Godding employed more use of his jab and doubled up on solid body shots. In the third, Warburton scored a couple of early shots but Godding ended the round with good double right and left handed body shots. Godding won the remaining rounds with bigger margins and reserved his best work for the fifth round, jolting Warburton with a big right. Godding showed a good chin to withstand this power shot and also bravely withstood the stinging body shots that followed. Overall, a very good showing from Godding (11-0) – who looks like talented boxer.
In the opener, Kirk Goodings progressed to 2-0 by out pointing journeyman Pavel Serikovs 40-37 in this super featherweight four rounder.
Maloney’s next promotion is the Rendall Munroe (20-1) v Victor Terrazas (25-1-1) WBC Eliminator on the 23rd April at the Skydome in Coventry. Tickets are priced at £70, £50 and £30 and are available at www.frankmaloney.com