By Brendan Galbraith – Belfast Flyweight, Luke ¡¥Winky¡¦ Wilton topped the Team Alio card last night in a seven-bout card at the Holiday Inn, Belfast, which also featured Olympic Bronze Medallist, the Georgian Heavyweight Vladimir Chanturia. On view in front of the packed house were four local boxers all making their professional debuts, Ryan Green, Paul Kayes, Brian Cussack and Paddy McGarrity.
Wilton is planning to travel to Dagenham next weekend to watch the upcoming Sexton-Bayaar British Title fight and is firmly targeted on meeting the winner for his own title shot. Before that, Wilton had to take care of business in the shape of Bulgarian Sali Mustafov (0-4)..
On paper, Mustafov was highly unlikely to extend Wilton the scheduled eight three minute rounds. In fact the formbook suggested that he would be lucky to last a round. The greying Bulgarian who looked like he was in his late 30s (his age is not recorded on his boxrec entry), remarkably made his pro debut last year. Amongst the list of conquerors on his record is hapless compatriot, Muharem Osmanov, who is remembered for his 60-second cameo appearance on the last Alio show in November 2009, offering no resistance to Luke Wilton¡¦s barrage of body punches.
At shortly after 11pm, Wilton, sporting his trademark claret and blue colours and a dapper flat cap, entered the ring to rapturous home support. Referee Paul McCullough, who officiated all seven bouts, issued his instructions and the first bell was sounded. Characteristically, Wilton disposed of any notion of a first round ¡¥feeling out¡¦ and got straight down to business forcing the Bulgarian onto the back foot. For the first minute, Mustafov looked like he had a bit more substance than his record suggested and attempted to trade with Wilton.
However, the first symptoms of his eventual downfall soon became apparent. Mustafov swung wildly at Wilton and similar to Carl Froch in his last fight against Kessler, the Bulgarian rotated a full 360„a as he ¡¥connected¡¦ with fresh air. That is were the similarities end with Messer¡¦s Froch and Mustafov.
Mustafov got away with it the first time. However, he repeated this ¡¥manoeuvre¡¦ a second and got tagged by Wilton. The third time he did this his footwork had dangerously put him in harms way as he stumbled towards the ropes, were Wilton clinically landed crushing one-two headshots to send the Bulgarian to the canvas. Referee Paul McCullough counted out Mustafov and at 2.08 in the first round Wilton had improved to 7-2-1.
In a threadbare Flyweight division there is little reason why Wilton should not be considered for a British Title shot against the winner of Sexton-Bayaar. Undoubtedly, a gulf in class exists between Wilton¡¦s last two opponents and British Title level opponents. However, that does not apply to Wilton ¡V who deserves to be considered at title level. I was at ringside to watch current British Champion Shinny Bayaar escape with a narrow points win over Najab Ali in Leigh, Manchester in the under card of the Lindsay-Arthur bill, and I felt Bayaar was very fortunate to get the decision ¡V I had it a draw on my scorecard. Bayaar was flat-footed, looked cumbersome coming forward and had an open defence. So, Wilton would have little to fear against Bayaar – although Sexton looks a classy operator at this weight. If a British Title shot is not forthcoming in the short-term there is also the mouth-watering prospect of a domestic clash with talented boxer, fellow Belfast man, Jamie Conlan for an Irish Title. Either way, it is good for Wilton to have options at his natural weight, rather than have to consider a move up to Super Flyweight.
*Full Report of under card to follow