Ingle pair McIntosh and Wood win in Nottingham

Dominic Ingle-trained Nottingham twosome Nathan McIntosh and Leigh Wood secured wide points decisions last night [October 28] in their home city.

McIntosh [pictured right] returned to paid action for the first time in two years, on the Carl Greaves, Jimmy Gill and Tony Harris-promoted card at a packed Clifton Leisure Centre, and pounded-out a 60-54 six-twos nod over ultra-durable Worcester gypsy Billy Smith.

Though the St Ann's welterweight conceded almost five pounds in weight to the 33-year-old former two-time Midland Area champion [10st 12 1/2lbs to 11st 4 1/2lbs], it didn't make any difference. Smith's face was reddened by sharp lead lefts as early as the opening 60 seconds  and Nathan gradually turned the screw as the 24-month rust shred and his confidence grew.

Fast-handed head-body-head flurries from the six-fight [all points] unbeaten East Midlander kept him several steps ahead of the 119-bout Errol Johnson-handled, though with Bob Plant in his corner last night, warhorse. Any attacks mounted from Smith were nimbly avoided by quick-footed, low-guarded McIntosh, who dominated through rounds four and five with an assortment of up and down blows.

Billy came out of his shell more in the final two stanzas but was repeatedly nailed with the jab [turned over at the last second for more of an impact] and then forced to defend stoutly on the ropes in the final 30 seconds as the 23-year-old stylist opened up with solid rights to both head and body - underlining a solid come-backing performance.

Referee was trialist Gareth Morris [with John Keane scoring from ringside] and well-supported show-opener McIntosh, who impressed me despite having a tendency to slap with his right, can be pleased with a good night's work in which he boxed neatly and, in truth, never really got out of second gear.

The other Ingle-tutored boxer on show, popular 23-year-old ex-Phoenix ABC super-featherweight Wood [9st 2 3/4lbs], had a harder workout than the 60-54 six-twos score, handed down from ringside by John Keane [scoring for referee Morris], would suggest.

Although there was little doubt that the Gedling first-timer deserved to have his hand raised after 12 minutes of decent action, winless [now in seven, one draw] but willing Ferndale-based Chuck Jones [9st 6lbs] shared two rounds for me and left Wood in no doubt about the difference between the paid and unpaid codes of boxing.

The lean, neat-boxing Nottingham prospect started slowly, was marked up by the windmill-like punching of the sawn-off southpaw slugger, and didn't find any degree of fluid rhythm until the third. But when he did put his punches together, the former Junior ABA champion showed promise - digging the body well and finding enough space to slot in accurate straight rights that brought claret streaming from the Welshman's nose.

Jones, three years younger at 20, tried to rough the debutant up on several occasions but though tenacious and deterred by little, his opponent - from the same amateur club that produced WBC world super-middleweight champion Carl Froch - was that little bit better and was well-worth his wide maiden win without the vest and head guard.