MB Exclusive - Amar out of English title defence

Adnan Amar has pulled out of his English welterweight title fight at the weekend.

The Ingle-trained Nottingham switch-hitter, due to make the second defence of his crown in an interesting-looking all-Midlands ten-rounder with Coventry's unbeaten James Flinn [pictured], is off the Hennessy Sports-promoted show at EventCity, Manchester, on Saturday evening [November 12].

A chest infection has been given as the reason for the champion's withdrawal and two-time British Masters 10st 7lbs boss Flinn now boxes Leeds' Adil Anwar, 12-1 (6), over ten for the vacant strap on a Channel 5-televised show topped by Tyson Fury's Commonwealth heavyweight title fight with Canadian-based Neven Pajkic.

And the West Midlands prospect, devastated at losing the chance to defeat a former Midland Area champion who'd made the ten-rounder personal, said: "I was looking forward to putting on a show on Saturday and taking the English title from Amar.

"He'd been mouthing off a lot to me on Facebook and Twitter in the last few weeks and even got some of his fans to do the same. In fact, Kell Brook joined in with it as well. But i'm disappointed i don't get the chance to ram those words down his throat because i would have done, believe me.

"But at least i'm still boxing for the English and have a decent test against Anwar, who i don't know too much about," admitted the 29-year-old, 10-0-1 (2). "But i'll get the job done whoever it is they put in front of me."

McKenzie handed Commonwealth chance and Maccarinelli incentive

Ovill McKenzie has been handed two huge incentives on Friday night - the Commonwealth title and a future showdown with former world champion Enzo Maccarinelli.

The Derby-based Jamaican [pictured sparring with Lee Jevons, who is also on the bill] boxes for the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight in Halifax this weekend [November 11] on a show that'll be broadcast live by up-and-coming Sky channel BoxNation.

But before serious talk of a Maccarinelli showdown can take place he first has to beat another scrapper from the land of the dragon, solid Jeff Evans, the Gary Lockett-trained Welsh 12st 7lbs monarch who's only tasted defeat once in ten [eight wins and a draw, one inside], over 12. The winner is then likely to meet the ex-WBO champion in a money-spinning first defence next year.

The slimmed-down Swansea banger, 32-5 (25), has been accustomed to life behind the microphone in recent weeks as BoxNation's colour commentator but steps between the ropes for the first time in 14 months and for the first time at light-heavyweight on the nine-bout undercard. Presuming he comes through a six-rounder unscathed, the former European cruiserweight champ will be jostling at the front of the queue for a crack at a belt he's never held. 

Though some would prefer Evans to prevail over the 36-minute distance and set up that all-Welsh title dust-up, durable and dangerous McKenzie starts as favourite. A former holder of this belt who also won the cruiserweight Prizefighter title in 2009, the hardy 31-year-old has suffered back-to-back defeats to Tony Bellew but twice dropped the Liverpudlian in their epic first meeting last year.

Bellew sensibly boxed on the back foot in their July British and Commonwealth title rematch, but 29-fight [18 wins, seven stoppages] Ovill is a heavy-handed, come-forward threshing machine who is deterred by little and encouraged by a lot. Against the ambitious, well-schooled but relatively-untested Evans, whose first step up in class saw him outpointed in Prizefighter by Ingle-trained English 12st boss Paul David, the East Midlander should have a little bit too much class and experience.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

McCauley seizes second strap; weekend round up

Kevin McCauley shocked a partisan Glaswegian crowd to outpoint local favourite Craig Windsor Jr for the vacant British Masters 11st belt on Friday night [November 4].

Windsor had been chasing a British title fight but the sturdy Stourbridge scrapper [pictured on the attack] put paid to the Scotsman's ambitions with a dominate display that secured him his second professional title.

Kenny Pringle handed the Errol Johnson-handled Black Countryman a 97-95 [or presumably 5-3-2 in rounds] decision after a tough ten that could have, it's said, easily have gone the other way at the Hilton Hotel.

McCauley had been on a run of ten successive defeats but several of those had been at middleweight and in excellent company. But the 32-year-old former Midland Area welterweight boss boxed ruggedly to hand the Peter Harrison-trained puncher his second loss in nine [seven wins, two inside].

The new champion's victory added the tenth win to his professional ledger in 43 [three draws].

But there were defeats on the same bill for two other Midlanders. In a four-rounder between two winless middleweights, Nottingham's Andy Hardy lost out 39-37 to Paisley's Craig Kelly. Scot Calow-trained Hardy is now without a victory in six. Stoke's Marvin Campbell saw his paid log fall to two defeats in two with a first-round stoppage defeat to big-punching Ronnie Clark, who secured his second inside-the-distance win in three [all wins].

On the same night, at the Doncaster Dome, South Yorkshire, durable twosome Kristian Laight, Nuneaton, and Delroy Spencer, Walsall, lost every round over four to a pair of first-timers. 119-bout Laight was shut-out by Adam Dingsdale; Spencer, in paid fight 140, by fast-handed Connor Nixon.

And last night [November 5], at Wembley Arena, Sedgley light-middle Tom Bowen looked to have done more than enough to end the unbeaten run of George Michael Carmen in a six-threes screened live on BoxNation before the exciting-looking WBO Interim lightweight title clash between Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis.

But referee Bob Williams marked the 18-minute bout 57 apiece, leaving Bowen's trainer Errol Johnson furious. He had a point. I thought Bowen won four of the six, with the local ticket-seller edging the fourth and sharing the fifth, for a 59-56 scoreline - as did commentators John Rawling and Enzo Maccarinelli.

Bowen, whose record now reads 3-2-1, was competing in his first contest over three-minute rounds but showed little fear about his fitness as he forced Carmen, now 6-0-1, onto the back foot and unsettled the southpaw with straight rights. The pattern continued through rounds two and three, with the Black Country 22-year-old consistently out-working the Frank Warren-promoted prospect.

Carmen was a good amateur who holds paid wins over three other Midlanders - Andrew Patterson, Matt Seawright and West Brom lefty Wayne Downing [twice] - but only edged the fourth, hung on for a share of the fifth, and was bullied onto the ropes and out-landed in the final three minutes.

Poor decision.

Birmingham's Sid Razak, who took a session off unbeaten and neat-boxing Francis Luke Robinson [son of former world featherweight champion Steve] before going down 39-37, and Worcester's Billy Smith, who was shut-out over four by London debutant Gary Corcoran, also boxed on the nine-fight bill.

No night of the Pharaohs for Al Harbi

Nasser Al Harbi's luckless 2011 continues.

The unbeaten Birmingham welter [pictured with his developmental WBC strap] was set to box for the WBC world youth title in Egypt on November 18 against heavy-handed Tanzanian Karage Sua, who'd scored nine knockout wins in his 11 paid victories [five defeats and two draws].

But the promoter couldn't produce the funds to finalise the ambitious card in Cairo - leaving the fast-fisted, classy-boxing 22-year-old Second City stylist with his third disappoint of a now-frustrating year.

Al Harbi had been set to box then-unbeaten Irishman Dean Byrne in a fascinating 'someones-0-has-to-go' eight-rounder in July, only for the whole card at London's ExCel Arena to be scrapped and the fight shelved. He was also set to swap leather with iron-gloved former Commonwealth 11st champion Matthew Hall last month, but he was left disappointed for a second time when that fell through as well.

And 'Notorious Nasser', who's undefeated in 13 [one inside] and the WBC Asia Council Continental welterweight champion, has been limited to only two ring outings this year. He dominated durable Duncan Cottier over six in July and then, in Leeds in September, gave former two-time British Masters boss Lee Noble a boxing lesson over six - going through a repertoire of silky skills against a heavier ex-English title challenger.

After securing his maiden pro title with a seven-round knockout win over tough Thai Dennapa Bigshotcamp in Dubai last December, Al Harbi had been looking for a breakout 2011. It appears as if the accurate-punching Brummie will have to wait until 2012 to show the rest of Britain what the Midlands already knows.

McCauley after second pro title

Former Midland Area champion Kevin McCauley has the chance to add a second belt to his collection tonight [November 4].

The solid Stourbridge-based light-middleweight [pictured on the left sparring Dean Harrison at Errol Johnson's KO Gym last week] makes the long trip to the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow to cross swords with Craig Windsor Jr for the vacant British Masters 11st strap and is looking to bring to an end a bad spell of results.

McCauley hasn't had his hand raised in his previous ten but his opponents combined records in that period read a staggering 78-4, including reversals to current English welterweight boss Adnan Amar and hammer-fisted Eastern European Sergei Rabchenka. He's mainly boxed at middleweight but slims down to test an eight-bout [seven wins, two quickly] Scot competing in his second 30-minute contest.

Well-built Windsor starts as favourite on the Sweeney Promotions bill in Scotland but Celtic-rooted McCauley's past form in and around 11st should serve as a warning for the Dave Coldwell-handled puncher.

The 32-year-old Black Countryman has scalped three unbeaten fighters in his 42-fight career [nine wins and three draws] and ripped the Area welterweight belt from touted Derby stylist Dave Ryan over ten in his opponent's backyard in 2010. He followed that up with a points win over stocky switch-hitter Dee Mitchell to re-enforce his ability when on-song.

For the record, two other Midlands-based boxers, Stoke's Marvin Campbell and Nottingham's all-action Andy Hardy [both winless but capable], box on the same bill.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

MB Exclusive - Counihan turns pro with Maloney

Top-rated Birmingham amateur Antonio Counihan is turning pro with Maloney Promotions, Midlands Boxing can exclusively reveal.

The Eastside ABC super-featherweight [pictured after winning the Midland ABAs earlier this year] captained England in the vest and had been heavily-tipped for an Olympic Games berth at the 2016 event in Rio de Janeiro.

But the lure of influential promoter Frank Maloney has seen Antonio ditch the head guard and the Great Britain development squad. He will be trained in his home city by his dad and amateur coach Paul, and managed by well-respected former pro Jon Pegg, who [amongst others] looks after British 11st title-chasing puncher Max Maxwell.

Counihan dominated Stephen Foster Jnr in sparring while the Salford man was European champion last year and is set to make his paid bow on December 10, on a Maloney-promoted bill in Peterlee that's topped by Ashley Theophane's British light-welterweight title defence against Nigel Wright.

A good stylist who garnered a sizeable following in the unpaid code, the former junior ABA champion scalped ex-Ireland captain Ray Moylette, a World Youth champion, reached a senior national semi and has regularly held his own in sparring with Commonwealth Games champion Thomas Stalker, who recently qualified for next year's Olympics with a bronze medal-winning performance in the World Amateur Championships.

And the 20-year-old fast-handed, quick-footed Solihull boxer looks calm, measured and will do his sparring at the Birmingham city centre-based gym that's home to Pegg and Richie Woodhall's band of fighters. And Pegg said: "He's a good prospect who has proved over the last three or four years that he is one of the best in the country.

"Tonio has the tools to go a long way and i think he will," he added.

Dangerous South American knockout artist next for Munroe

Rendall Munroe will defend his WBA International title later this month against a big-hitting Venezuelan who holds a brace of victories over an ex-top ten-rated pound-for-pounder.

The Leicester super-bantamweight [pictured on the attack against Victor Terrazas in his WBC title eliminator last year] boxes in Newport on November 26 against former WBA Interim bantamweight champion Nehomar Cermeno and the winner can probably look forward to a shot at the full WBA crown next year.

But fast-starting Cermeno is an import who needs to be respected. The 31-year-old lost a 12-round split to Terrazas [the same man Munroe flattened in nine in Coventry] in a WBA title eliminator earlier this year but holds two points victories over multi-weight champion Cristian Mijares, the cute-boxing Mexican who was, at the time of Nehomar beating him, recognised as one of the premier fighters in any weight class.

And the East Midlands portsider, who impressed with his never-say-die courage in a gallant WBC title shot in Japan 13 months ago, has been training harder than ever for this 36-minute outing. He's given up his job as a binman and based himself in a caravan outside the Shinfields gym in Derbyshire to dedicate 100 per cent of his focus and time on victory on the Hatton Promotions bill.

Bull-strong Rendall, 23-2 (9), has beaten-out two distance victories in 2011, the last being a wide ten-round decision over Ryuta Miyagi in Sheffield two months ago that showcased the slick skills which has made him one of the best super-bantamweights on the planet, and is confident that new promoter Ricky Hatton can secure him the big contests he craves in 2012.

The 31-year-old former English, Commonwealth and European 8st 10lbs champion won't be looking past Cermeno, who has 20 victories in 25 [12 early and one draw], but has his sights firmly on the current World Boxing Association monarch Rico Ramos, the unbeaten American who defends his crown against impressive Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux on New Year's Eve.

Victory in Wales will bring that dream another step closer.

Carruthers shows maturity to give Cameron a test

Terry Carruthers showed new-found maturity to survive a furious opening round barrage and push his opponent all the way.

The Birmingham light-middleweight [pictutred blocking a probing left from Kreshnik Qato at York Hall last month] went down on points to fast-starting Liam Cameron in Sheffield on Saturday [October 29] and admitted the big-hitting former ABA champion is the hardest-punching fighter he's been in with.

Decent praise when you consider Carruthers has swapped 10oz leather with mallet-fisted Liverpudlian pair Joe Selkirk and Liam Smith, as well as once-touted Trever 'Wrecking' Crewe and current English 11st boss Brian Rose. Tommy Hearns-like Selkirk was the only one listed to stop him [and he beat Crewe and drew with Smith] but he rated Cameron higher.

But it looked as though the 25-year-old Brummie was going to be swatted inside the opening three minutes, when his legs were stiffened under a ferocious two-fisted barrage from the taller and ambitious South Yorkshireman, now 11-1 (4). Carruthers survived but was rattled again and forced to defend stoutly during the following round.

Neat-boxing Cameron was generally in command but his Second City opponent, who has won nine [one stoppage] and drew six of his 26 professional outings, battled back strongly over the final three rounds and did enough to nick a session and draw another on referee Michael Alexander's scorecard before going down 59-56.

And handler Jon Pegg thought a 58-56 tally would have been a more realistic reflection on the closeness of the final rounds of the 18-minute scrap on Dennis Hobson's show at Don Valley Stadium. He said: "Though i had the fight closer, it was a fair result that Terry has learnt a lot from.

"Liam had him in all sorts of trouble early on but he rode it out and came on very strong in the last couple of rounds. He's matured a lot under our tutelage, as he has been tagged early before [against Selkirk in the summer], didn't keep his chin down and hold his gloves up, and was taken out quickly.

"But it's testament to his improvement that he came back so well in the latter stages," added well-respected trainer, manager, promoter and ex-featherweight pro Pegg.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

No joy for Midlands trio in Prizefighter

Midlands threesome Lee Glover, Barrington Brown and Troy James all failed in their bids to win the title of featherweight Prizefighter champion in London last night [October 29].

Both Glover, Tipton, and Brown, Nottingham, fell at the first quarter-final hurdle - with Coventry's James losing out in the semi on the Sky Sports-televised eight-man competition at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

First out of the hat, drew by former world 9st bosses Colin McMillan [WBO] and Barry McGuigan [WBA], was unbeaten Glover, who got the fighter most were looking to avoid until the final [or completely, if he'd been eliminated by someone else] - eventual winner and Spencer Fearon-handled Mongolian warrior Choi Tsveenpurev.

The final two balls to be drawn were Brown and ex-McGuigan-managed 'Terrifying' Troy [pictured above in their give-and-take fight], who'd face each other in a intriguing-looking East vs West Midlands nine-minute derby.

But Errol Johnson-trained Glover, unblemished in six entering [two quickly] and the current International Masters champion, was first up and brutally swatted aside by world-ranked Choi. The now-Capital-based former WBU boss cleverly sensed the right over the top would do the damage and sent the Black Countryman hurtling to the canvas with 45 seconds left of the opener.

Lee [9st 1 1/2lbs], only 24 and with plenty of time on his side to come again, boxed well in between being rattled with the rights and hitting the floor, landing his well-schooled jab with a degree of ease. But a dangerously low left and inexperience at this level meant his destiny was already mapped out. 

And so it proved when, early in the second stanza, the self-styled 'Tipton Slasher' was lifted off his feet by his powerfully-built 40-year-old opponent and dropped again. He got up, walked to his corner and signaled [with a sly shake of his glove] that he was through. The referee, Victor Loughlin, completed the count after 62 seconds of the set three-rounder.

The all-Midlands quarter-final between Tony Harris-trained Barrington 'Killah' Brown [9st 1 1/2lbs] and well-built Troy James looked good from the outset. On his day, tall, lean, big-hitting Brown can give any man a decent run for his money and was back at the weight that saw him obliterate touted former amateur star Lloyd Otte in 2006 [at this venue].

But after stiffening the legs of James, who entered with a 9-0-1 (3) paid tab, in the opening minute with an overhand right and whipping left and right uppercuts, 29-year-old Radford-based Barrington was muscled onto the back foot and, at the end of the three-rounder, out of the competition. Troy's body shots saw Brown's output drop and though he landed a corking uppercut at the death in the final session, it was too late.

Though the decision was unanimous for the Coventry feather [9st 1 1/4lbs], two of the three judges marked it 29-28 [like myself], presumably giving the Nottingham puncher, now with five wins [two stoppages] and three draws in 14, the opening three minutes, with the third tallying a 30-28 score that probably meant he gave the first round a draw.

But there would be no luck for James in the semi, neatly out-boxed by Manchester's silky Rhys Roberts. Troy had a better final three minutes but, like Brown in their match, left himself too much to do. Two gave the Midlander the third [29-28] and one gave him a share of the third [30-28] but Roberts advanced by unanimous decision and went on to lose to Choi in the final.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

McPhilbin frustrated by slippery Cover

The only fighter who could have frustrated Shane McPhilbin more than his opponent last night would have been recently-disposed British champion Rob Norton. 

The mallet-fisted Midland Area cruiserweight champion from Bulwell [pictured with his Area title in June] found it hard to pin-down slippery ex-Ingle-trained Simeon Cover but landed a steady stream of straight rights to secure a 59-56 six-twos points victory in his home city.

For the record, i thought referee John Keane's tally was a trifle generous to Worksop's Cover, returning to competitive action for the first time in over three years and in fight 61 [16 wins, four inside, and two draws], and had the Nottingham banger a shut-out winner at Clifton Leisure Centre.

But McPhilbin [14st 13lbs] will just have been glad to fight. He was originally penciled in to fight Birmingham-based Zimbabwean Hastings Rasani, but the former Commonwealth title challenger withdrew last weekend following the death of his father. Then another Commonwealth belt challenger, Billy Boyle, was drafted in before he pulled out on Wednesday and Cover was settled on.

To break the 12 minutes down would be a dull affair - and that's through no fault of the home ticket-seller. Shane, who won the Midland belt with a spectacular three-round destruction of then-unbeaten Rhys Davies in June, was the man looking to work throughout - left hooks and straight rights - and any decent, clean shots that were landed [and there were few] arrived from his iron-laden gloves.

Yet negative Cover [14st 10 1/4lbs] moved as though he was skating on ice and, when the action moved in close, ducked and grabbed hold of the 25-year-old, supported at ringside by one of Bulwell's most famous fighting sons [ex-British champion Del Bryan] and another former Lonsdale belt-holder from Nottingham, Tony Laing, around the waist.

Still, 33-year-old Simeon was forced to hold tightly when a left and looping right bounced off his shaven-headed dome in the fifth - with the same trick repeated successfully in the final two minutes. But the look of frustration and disgust on the face of 'Mr Block' at the final bell said it all; he wanted to have a fight.

It would be hard to gauge what McPhilbin's level is at or what level he has potential to reach if you'd only seen him box last night. But I've seen him on four or five occasions and have no qualms in predicting that he'd rip the British cruiserweight title from Streatham's Leon Williams if the opportunity presented itself. 

Williams controversially took the belt from Stourbridge's Rob Norton last week in a fight he looked very fortunate to win. Although improving, he's been knocked out before and is a one-dimensional scrapper who wants a fighter to come to him. The iron-chinned East Midlander, who absorbed punishment from former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Michael Sprott and from Tyson Fury [three times] in the vest, would do that and i'd favour his strength and power to show through.

In the meantime, however, Shane [who was noisily supported by hundreds of passionate fans from his area of the Lace City] is set to box again on December 3 in Newark, at the Grove Leisure Centre, before an assault on the English and possibly British crowns are mounted in 2012.

But he left a chilling message to the newly-crowned domestic cruiserweight king. "If i got the chance, i'd knock Williams out," roared the Carl Greaves-handled former heavyweight Prizefighter semi-finalist. "I'd love to."

Maughan battles through cut to win Hardy battle

Terry Maughan must have thought he was going to be in for an easy night when he decked Andy Hardy less than than 30 seconds into his six-rounder in Nottingham last night.

But Hardy clambered to his feet, bravely fought back for the remainder of the bout and went down 58-56 [scored on the outside by John Keane for trialist referee Gareth Morris] after a crowd-pleasing 12-minute all-Nottingham affair that got my vote for fight of the night on the Carl Greaves-promoted bill.

Mr Keane's scoreline was, for what it's worth, a tad too close for me and i had the Sneinton-based light-middleweight a far more commanding 59-55 victor [giving his opponent the third and a share of a back-and-forth fifth].

But Scott Calow-handled Hardy [11st 4 1/2lbs] - a game, hard trier from Newstead - made Irish-rooted Terry work every minute for his win, aggressively throwing himself into a toe-to-toe war that saw both absorb plenty of punishment.

Although with no amateur background and only five unlicenced boxing bouts [all wins] to his name before he turned professional in October 2009, Tony Harris-trained, Jimmy Gill-managed Maughan surprisingly out-boxed a 26-year-old [now winless in five] who had over 60 unpaid contests.

And it looked as though Andy would suffer the first inside-the-distance defeat of his eight-month paid career when a counter right sent him tumbling early in the opening stanza. More off-balance than overly hurt, in truth, he was up quickly but was rattled again moments later when a right-handed body-head combination crashed home.

Maughan boxed neatly in the second but a stray elbow mid-way through the third left the former Richie Woodhall-coached scrapper sliced on the right eyebrow, surviving an inspection from the ringside doctor. Jimmy Gill worked magic to stem the flow of blood between rounds and both traded furiously during the fourth and fifth, with vociferously-supported Terry nailing oncoming Hardy with more well-timed rights.

Once again, the better, crisper and cleaner shots came from Maughan in the last but Hardy, biting down on his gumshield and windmilling with both silver-gloved fists, never stopped trying and optimistically offered his hand to Mr Morris at the final bell, only to be left disappointed for the fifth time this year.

But despite the win, the victor wasn't completely satisfied with his performance. "I started to neglect my jab after a while and just got involved in a bit of a war with him," admitted the ambitious former three-time British kickboxing champion [11st 2 1/4lbs], who registered his sixth professional win in eight and fourth on the spin.

"If i'd continued to have boxed off my jab, picking the right shot after stopping him in his tracks with a solid lead, then i could have made life a lot simpler and won with a bit more ease. But it's a learning curve.

"But i loved being involved in a hard fight like that and i can't wait to get back in there and go at it again," he continued. "I've got big ambitions and i'm aiming for a title, whatever belt that's being offered to me, next year."

Finnegan to consider future after unexpected defeat

Jonjo Finnegan is to have a serious think about his boxing future after being shockingly halted in Nottingham last night.

The popular British Masters 12st champion from Burton [pictured on the pads] had set his sights on an exciting-looking scrap with returning Rod Anderton for the vacant Midland Area light-heavyweight belt in 2012.

But a day shy of 12 months since he won his treasured title in a torrid ten-round struggle with Sheffield binman Dean Walker on a atmospheric night in his hometown, he was sensationally sent sprawling in two rounds by Doncaster's unheralded James Tucker.

Tucker, who secured his fifth win [second by stoppage] in 51 [three draws], uncorked an earth-trembling left half way through the second of a scheduled six-twos that sent Jonjo crashing to the canvas with a thud. Although he made it to his feet before the count of eight, albeit on unsteady pins, referee John Keane had a close look into his eyes and made the sensible decision to end matters at 1.29.

The warning signs were, however, there from the opening round, which Finnegan [12st 11 1/4lbs] edged on my card. As would be expected from an ex-Midland ABA champion who boxed for the Irish title in the pros, Jonjo was the superior technician but his unusually-lax defence meant that he shipped several of those soon-to-be-pivotal lefts and looping rights.

Now handled by former WBF super-featherweight boss Carl Greaves, the South Yorkshireman looked a different animal to the one i'd seen in the past, when he'd done just about enough to survive. Yet it was obvious to anyone at a packed-out Clifton Leisure Centre that the 26-year-old, naturally bigger but lighter [12st 9 3/4lbs] on the night, fancied securing his second win in as many outings - having dropped and outpointed unbeaten James Cunningham three weeks ago.

That was clearly re-enforced in the early moments of the second and then brutally underlined 89 seconds in when he connected with that thudding left that broke Finnegan's jaw. He's set to box in Halifax next week, against winless local Shazad Hussain, and what price on the now-streaking puncher to complete a hat-trick of victories?

What Jonjo, who sold over 100 tickets and now drops to 14-7-3, decides to do next is entirely up to him. If he decides to call it a career, the 31-year-old can hold his head high and be proud of capturing a professional title he'd craved from day one. But knowing the type of man he is, i can't see him wanting to bow out of the sport like that.

Incidentally, interested spectator seated next to me at ringside was Paddy Connors, the Derbyshire light-heavyweight who outpointed Tucker 60-55 on his paid debut last month. The well-built Irish-rooted scrapper boxes for the second time in Leicester on December 4 and happily mused that it made his comfortable win look even better.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

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.

Randell aiming for 'Gambian Tiger' scalp

Tony Randell has the chance to scalp a former Prizefighter champion tonight [October 27].

The talented if erratic Birmingham middleweight [pictured right] takes on 2010 super-middleweight champion Patrick Mendy in London in a fight that pitches Tony's sharp, long-armed boxing against the all-action style of the smaller Reading-based Gambian.

Mendy scalped two ex-Midland Area champions, Stourbridge's Sam Horton and Northampton's current English 12st boss Paul David, as well as Southern Area boss Daniel Cadman to take the £32,000 jackpot at York Hall 16 months ago.

Since then, the Jim Evans-managed 21-year-old has beaten-out three points decisions, including one over fading former British title contender Paul Samuels, and will be looking for win 12 in 16 [four defeats, all on points and all in excellent company; Kenny Anderson, Tobias Webb, Jez Wilson and Travis Dickinson].

But Randell, who used his height and brain to shockingly outpoint former world and European title challenger Luca Messi earlier in the year, is a capable Errol Johnson-trained boxer who, when he puts his mind to it and on-point, is a handful for most middleweights on the domestic scene.

The 39-bout [12 wins, four inside, and two draws] has been sparring with Jonjo Finnegan [the British Masters champion who boxes in Nottingham tomorrow] for this and has held both the Midland Area and International Masters straps - scoring sold wins over Max Maxwell and once-touted Kevin Concepcion [both on points in Area title ten-rounders].

"It's a good chance for me and i can show more people what i'm all about," the 29-year-old aspiring fashionasta coolly reasoned.

Fearless Carruthers faces another hard night

Terry Carruthers' spell of testing fights continues at the weekend.

The fearless Brummie middleweight crosses swords with stylish ex-ABA champion Liam Cameron, 10-1 (4), at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium on Saturday night [October 29] and that'll take the combined records of his last ten opponents to an impressive 104-19-3.

That the Jon Pegg-handled 25-year-old [pictured absorbing an uppercut from Kreshnik Qato] has won three and drew two of those [in company that can only be described, on the whole at least, as stellar] is an indication of the improvement he's made since he left Nobby Nobbs and made his return to paid action in 2009.

He thrashed Martin Robins, 7-1 entering, at the Second City's Tower Ballroom in September and then, most recently, appeared to have done more than enough to outpoint former WBF champ Kreshnik Qato over a good-value six. Surprisingly, though, the London-based Albanian, on promoter Spencer Fearon's Hard Knocks show in the Capital earlier in the month, was given a handy 59-56 nod.

But he's held Liverpool's undefeated Liam Smith [brother of former British champions Stephen and Paul] to a draw, as well as handing defeat to another Scouser, six-bout unbeaten Steve Harkin. A rematch a month later produced a six-round draw that shaven-headed Terry, with nine wins [one inside] and six draws in 25, looked to have won. 

Although big-hitting, Tommy Hearns-like Joe Selkirk [also from Liverpool] brushed him aside in just 75 seconds, both English 11st boss Brian Rose, who contests the British light-middleweight title in December, and sharp-boxing Southern Area champ Steve O'Meara could only narrowly outpointed him.

And Pegg, a well-respected promoter, trainer, matchmaker and ex-pro, said: "Terry has a difficult task against Cameron, who's a neat boxer and carries a solid dig. But he's improving and is starting to believe in himself and what he can do when he puts his mind to it. He'll give him a good argument."

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Maughan's Irish title goal

Terry Maughan is targeting an assault on the Irish title - providing he comes through his six-rounder on Friday [October 28] unscathed.

The Nottingham light-middleweight boxes in his home city, over 12 minutes against Andy Hardy on a Carl Greaves and Jimmy Gill-promoted five-fight bill at Clifton Leisure Centre, looking to register his sixth paid win in eight.

Though he broke even in his first four fights, the former three-time British kick-boxing champion has won three on the spin, including tamings of solid southpaw Wayne Downing and teak-tough Ryan Clark, without dropping a single session.

And the Tony Harris-trained fighter will hope to continue that form against a winless but willing 26-year-old who also hails from the Lace City. Hardy has been matched tough in his four professional outings [two debutants and two unbeaten middleweights] but has extended them all and a maiden win at home is certain to be on his agenda.

But ambitious Maughan, boxing in Nottingham for the fourth time, sees his future at a championship level - and the idle Irish 11st title, which hasn't been contested since iron-fisted former British champion Neil Sinclair blasted through Henry Coyle to win it in three rounds two years ago, is flashing brightly on his radar. 

First, however, the East Midlander knows he has to contend with a come-forward boxer who aims to ruin the party.

"I'm expecting to have a difficult fight on Friday," admitted an improving scrapper who hails from the same area of Nottingham [Sneinton] as one of the greatest-ever bare-knuckle fighters, William 'Bendigo' Thompson. 

"He's tough, comes to have a row and, like myself, will be looking to impress in his home town. But I've put in the hard work, both inside and outside of the gym, so there's no excuse; i'm ready for whatever Hardy brings.

"The Irish title is something i'm looking at in the future, as the title is vacant and i could put myself in a decent position to fight for it if i get a few more wins under my belt. But i'm not looking past Friday. 

"It'll be my first fight of the new season and i'm looking forward to my sixth win," the 26-year-old, who is joined on the card by two other Irish-rooted fighters, Bulwell's Midland Area cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin and Burton's British Masters 12st boss Jonjo Finnegan, added.

Big-hitting Brown handed Prizefighter chance

Barrington Brown is a last-minute addition to this Saturday's Prizefighter at York Hall.

The dangerous Tony Harris-trained Nottingham puncher was originally contacted by Eddie Hearn [Matchroom Boxing supremo] to appear in the original eight-man featherweight line-up at the weekend [October 29] but was then dropped in favour of novice George Jupp.

But with the injury withdrawal of Mickey Coveney, the streaking Irish and International Masters super-featherweight champion, 13-fight [five wins and three draws, two quickly] Brown, who once destroyed former top-rated amateur Lloyd Otte and held future British champion Gary Davies to a draw in 2006, is now back in the running for the £32,000 winners cheque in the capital.

In order to do that, though, the 29-year-old will have to win three contests in the space of three hours and possibly have to swap leather with two other Midlands nine stoners, Coventry's Troy James, 9-0-1 (3), and Tipton's International Masters featherweight boss Lee Glover, 6-0 (2). Feared Mongolian favourite Choi Tsveenpurev, 32-5 (22), fast-handed Manchester stylist Rhys Roberts, 13-1 (2), improving Scouser Lee Jennings, 5-2 (2), and Ian Bailey, 7-7, complete the always-entertaining competition of endurance.

Brown drew his last contest in September, over four with heavier first-timer Francis Maina at the same venue he goes to battle in on Saturday, but manager Jimmy Gill feels that his Radford-based charge has a realistic chance of success on the Sky Sports-televised show.

"He'll be the underdog," admitted a well-respected fight figure who was in the corner with Jason Booth last weekend," but is capable and though he drew last month, Barrington took that fight on three days notice and most thought he won."

Finnegan wants the best of British

Jonjo Finnegan has thrown down the gauntlet to Britain's light-heavyweights.

The popular Burton stylist boxes a few miles up the road in Nottingham on Friday night [October 28], on a Carl Greaves-promoted show at Clifton Leisure Centre, and has targeted big fights against the best in the country.

He's sold his allocation of 100 tickets and boxes over four against Doncaster's durable James Tucker, who's coming off a win over undefeated James Cunningham three weeks ago, on an all-Nottingham bill that includes two other Irish-rooted fighters, Bulwell's Midland Area cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin and Sneinton's Terry Maughan, as well as St Ann's welterweight Nathan McIntosh and Gedling first-timer Leigh Wood.

And the British Masters 12st champion, who's been sparring with talented if erratic Brummie Tony Randell for this, can probably look forward to a crack at the vacant Midland Area light-heavyweight title if he comes through unscathed this week and, longer term, tilts at the English and Irish straps.

Finnegan has offered to meet Reagan Denton, the Sheffield scrapper with only one loss in 14, over ten but has yet to hear anything from him or his manager Glyn Rhodes. But it's the increasing talk of an all-Midlands showdown with dangerous returning Nottingham puncher Rod Anderton that gets the juices flowing for the Errol Johnson-trained former Midland ABA champion.

"We've been making offers at Denton's people but nothing seems to be coming from it and i don't think he wants it," admitted the former Irish title challenger, 14-6-3. "But the Anderton fight is the one i really want.

"It should have happened about four or five years ago but, for whatever reason, it never has. That's boxing. He hasn't boxed for a bit [since he was swatted aside in a round by Danny McIntosh for the English title in 2008] but he's won a title before [the International Masters] and it's a natural, either in Burton or Nottingham, that would sell a bucket-load of tickets.

"Rod has also challenged for the English belt and i want to as well, so the winner could be in a position to get that. If and when he fights again, and if he can recapture his old form [11 wins and a draw in 15, three quickly], then it's a contest that would capture the imagination in the East Midlands and could do us both a lot of favours.

"The time is right and i've been hitting harder in the gym for my last couple and think that, stepping up a few pounds to 12st 7lbs and boxing over a ten or 12-round distance, i would take someone apart. I'm looking at the bigger fights with better lads now, to progress me further up the ladder and getting myself in the title mix.

"That's not to say i'm looking past Tucker," reasoned the 31-year-old, who boxed beautifully to tame heavy-handed Derby destroyer Elvis Dube over six last time out.

"If i'm honest I've not seen too much of him or know that much about him, aside from he's tough and only a couple have stopped him. But i've taken this to keep busy and get a few more rounds under my belt, which he'll give me, i'm sure.

"There are some huge nights around the corner and i can't afford to mess that up on Friday."

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.

Quigg dethrones Booth the brave

Many in the trade had favoured Scott Quigg to be too big, too strong and too fresh for veteran British super-bantamweight champion Jason Booth when they met at Reebok Stadium on Saturday night [October 22].

And so it proved as the unbeaten but relatively untested Bury boxer - on a good-value Maloney Promotions card - forced the smooth-boxing Nottingham stylist, a former IBF world title challenger two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, to be retired by his corner at the end of the seventh.

Though Jason hadn't been off his feet and hadn't been in any great deal of trouble at the time of the ending, the challenger's hooks to the body and neatly-threaded right uppercuts had begun to find the mark with more and more regularity. There was only going to be one winner.

In truth, the title looked as though it would be changing hands from as early as the third.

At 33 and with 44 tough and testing professional bouts [36 wins, 15 early] under his 8st 10lbs belt, the Strelley-based former IBO, two-time British and three-time Commonwealth champion (8st 8 1/2lbs) is a fighter on the decline. But that doesn't mean he's no longer capable of competing with the top men in Britain. 

And he took the opening round for me - using his feet well to glide in and out of range and score with an accurate right hand. Trained in his home city by Tony Harris, Booth also made aggressive former kick-boxer Quigg (8st 9 1/2lbs) miss fairly wildly on several occasions, with his gloves taking anything that went close to landing on his well-worn face.

But Scott began to find his range as the bout went though rounds two and three, forcing the champion to box exclusively on the retreat and to take thumping rights to the ribs and quick-handed right uppercuts upstairs. Though several were taken on the gloves by the well-schooled four-time European title challenger, enough were finding the target to cause concern.

By the fifth, and now a 33/1-on favourite, Ricky Hatton-promoted Quigg showed that his youth [ten years younger], size [four-inch height advantage] and freshness [no wear-and-tear in a four-year paid career; Booth has been a pro since 1996 [at flyweight] and with well-documented outside-the-ring troubles] was too much for the willy experience of the canny little warrior.

Jason worked entirely off the back foot as the seventh started, shipping more heavy-looking right-handed uppercuts flush in the face. His defence was gradually being prized apart by the accurate blows and, as Booth walked back to his corner at the end of the seventh, his team - including promoter Frank Maloney and manager Jimmy Gill - decided enough was enough.

In his ringside interview afterwards with Sky Sports, Quigg said: "To win this [the British title] means a lot to me, as does sharing the ring and beating a great fighter and warrior like Jason. To do that to him shows i'm improving," added the Joe Gallagher-trained 23-year-old, now 23-0 (16).

Booth hinted he'll keep himself in shape and may even drop down to bantamweight, where he won the Commonwealth title in 2007. Whatever he decides to do next, be it carrying on or retirement, the former Radford Boys ABC East Midlander can be proud of a career that almost took him to a recognised version of a world title.

For the record, Richie Davies was the third man and Terry O'Connor, Ian-John Lewis and Steve Gray the three scoring judges who were rendered irrelevant by Quigg's clinical display of punching.