Friday 16 May 2014

Courageous Carruthers Calls It Quits


By Tom Podmore.

Boxing is a sport where the statistics often don’t paint the full picture

Put it this way: a fighter could have a flawless, glossy-looking ledger and be seen as a prospect, yet that may not be the case.

Conversely, a boxer with a patchy record is often dismissed as nothing more than a journeyman.

Again, that may not be the case.

Looking for a prime example of the latter? Step forward Terry Carruthers, the ex-Midlands Area and British Masters champion and Prizefighter finalist who has announced that he’s retiring from the sport he’s served so well at just 28.

Though he was set to box for the British Masters Bronze title against Matchroom Sport-promoted Ryan Aston in Dudley next month, the always-entertaining Brummie, after some recent soul-searching, decided that, coupled with trouble making the 11st weight he feels he’s strongest at, family has to come first in his life.

I’m sure that’ll come as a relief to his girlfriend and his two small children.

On the surface, an up-and-down 15-17-6 [1] professional tab doesn’t make for pleasant reading – and, as mentioned earlier on, many less-clued-up people would think Terry wasn’t capable of competing. That’s incorrect.

A paid fighter since 2005, when he turned over with legendary Second City fight figure Nobby Nobbs, Carruthers lost a close one against Andy Cosnett on one of Pat Cowdell’s then-four-a-year Monday night shows.

He then drew against then-unbeaten Jon ‘Boy’ Whiteman, stopped future Midlands Area boss Darren Gethin on a cut, before meeting debut opponent Cosnett at the Holiday Inn again.

I was there on that Monday night and thought that Carruthers, then with hair, had done more than enough to take his tally to 2-1-1. As it was, Derby official Paul Thomas marked the six-twos all-square at 58 apiece and, instead, Terry’s record read 1-1-2.

Another draw followed, against Scotsman Paul Burns, before losing twice inside the opening stanza – to Brighton-based Aussie Justin Murphy and future British title challenger Barrie Jones, a skilled southpaw.

Sandwiched in-between those blow-outs, though, was a win over capable and then-touted Stoke light-middleweight Danny Johnston. That performance illustrated Carruthers’ un-tapped potential, with his cleaner, sharper blows and decent footwork piling-up the points for a victory that looked wider for me than the 59-58 tally handed down.

Yet the showing that got my attention was the following year, in February 2007. Brought in as a last-minute replacement to meet Pat Cowdell-trained Sean McKervey, a Coventry-based portsider who had two wins and a draw in three and would later go on to take Midlands Area and Masters crowns, Carruthers was fantastic.

Let’s get this straight from the off: the Lea Bank warrior dominated the six-rounder. The records show that Terry O’Connor marked it 58-56, yet it was much wider than that. McKervey, as ever, was brave and tough but had no answer to Terry’s speed, accurate-punching and polish.

However, that was the last boxing would see of Carruthers until November 2009, when he re-appeared with Errol Johnson training and managing him – and the Second City scrapper came back with the bit well and truly between his teeth.

A draw with Yorkshire first-timer Neil Beevers looked close, but a four-round domination over Trevor Crewe, dubbed ‘Wrecking Crewe’ and touted by Boxing News as a serious prospect, showed that, if matched correctly, this was man who could put the defeats of the past behind him.

Crewe’s two victories had both come inside the scheduled distance – and the well-built Wearsider went eagerly and expectantly searching for stoppage three. He didn’t find it. Instead, Carruthers absorbed the hammer-fisted blows, fought back harder, and didn’t drop a single session over the four. Crewe hasn’t boxed since.

A couple of defeats and a couple of wins followed for the one-time doorman, but a draw with Liam Smith, who is currently the British and Commonwealth champion at 11st and whose only blemish is that fight with Carruthers, raised his stock further.

He pushed Brian Rose, another man to have held the Lonsdale Belt at light-middleweight and who’s set to fight for the WBO world title in the summer, all the way over six – and Jon Pegg, who was to handle Terry later on, told me that Steve Wood admitted that the decision could have so easily have gone the other way.

Again, there were downs - a couple of stoppage defeats to Joe Selkirk and Kris Carslaw, robberies against Kreshnik Qato, and points defeats against Liam Cameron and Steve O’Meara [both close but deserved] – but better days were just around the corner.

He captured his first professional title with a ten-round victory over capable Black Country-based Kevin McCauley in 2012 and then, two months later on the undercard of Carl Froch’s stoppage win over Lucian Bute in Nottingham, beat-up and dropped [twice] avoided ex-English champion Adnan Amar on the way to a resounding 60-53 scoreline.

Despite being two divisions heavier, Chris Eubank Jr, undefeated in four, was offered to the blood-and-guts Brummie next – and the offer was quickly accepted, in spite of it being five days before they were due to see action. A decent pay-day and exposure on Channel 5, Terry didn’t hesitate.

"I've seen all of his fights and he's alright," admitted Terry in the run-up to the six-rounder with the eldest son of enigmatic former two-weight world champion of the same name. "But he's had everything his own way, which he won't against me."

He was right – and the much-touted prospect was given a 59-57 nod after 18 minutes in which the underdog met him in the middle and pushed him all the way.

Arguably, he gave Eubank the toughest test [both up to and since] of his short professional career, which has been high on statements that have put fans, promoters and fighters backs-up alike.

Though that fight was on terrestrial television, he’s probably best-remembered for his fearless and all-heart showing on Sky Sports’ Prizefighter, the three-threes knockout tournament where he reached the final. He gave everything he had in every fight to get there, including a scalp of Nav Mansouri in the semi, and was stopped on his feet in the final by stylist Nigerian Larry Ekundayo – totally exhausted but with a new fan-base.

The heavily-tattooed Midlander was hoping for more exposure following his brave showings – and there was even talk of him meeting Brian Rose again, this time for the Blackpool-based, Birmingham-born boxer’s British title. It never happened.

Disappointingly for Terry fights became increasingly hard to come by and he was forced to take one in Denmark against Torben Keller, which he lost via decision over eight.

He won the Midlands Area title in October with a superb showing of skill to win over ten against capable Steve Spence, but lost it two months later in heart-breaking fashion in a Birmingham vs Black Country showdown against former British welterweight title challenger Jason Welborn.
Carruthers, leading on all scorecards [two margins of 68-66 and one of 69-65] in a fight that doubled as an eliminator for the Lonsdale Belt at light-middle, was stopped on cuts in the eighth.

Since then, he’s only boxed once – a ten-round points defeat to bigger and heavier Nick Blackwell in the West Country – and admitted that he wasn’t big enough to compete with a fighter who gave Billy-Joe Saunders an excellent argument for the British title.

But he can look back proudly, as can his family, on an exciting career that doesn’t begin to tell the full story when browsing the oft-misleading figures on BoxRec.

There’s a lesson there for many.

Thursday 21 February 2013

Reeve lines up British title challenge

Nathan Reeve is weighing up his big-fight options after being handed the date for his next fight.

The British Masters super-flyweight champion is back in the ring on a big show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday, March 9.

An injury to his right hand has kept Reeve out of action since his terrific title-winning effort in front of a sell-out crowd at the Park Inn Hotel last September.

His dramatic eight-round stoppage of Terry Broadbent also secured him the Northamptonshire Leisure Trust's Sportsman-of-the-Year award and  No 2 spot in top website BoxRec's ratings.

British champion Paul Butler is currently No 1 and while Reeve could challenge him this year, he could take another route to the Lonsdale belt.

Promoter Frank Maloney hopes  British and Commonwealth flyweight champion Kevin Satchell will move on to box for European and possibly world honours this year and that would create an opening for Reeve in the eight-stone division.

"I want to be mixing with the best this year - and I've got to look at what my options are," said the 23 year-old from Kingsley.

"I'm highly rated at super-flyweight, but I could make flyweight if an opportunity came along. I'm sure I would still be strong at the weight.

"It's been really frustrating since my last fight.

"The physiotherapist  said I had tendon damage and told me to rest my hand. I still went out running, but I'm a fighter, not a runner and it's been hard.   

"I've established my place as one of the top fighters in the country and haven't been able to build on it.

"I've got to keep fighting, keep winning and take my chances when they come my way."

The show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall will mark 70 years of boxing at the Black Country fight venue.

Promoter PJ Rowson is planning a day of celebration and all boxers who fought at the Civic 

Hall are invited to pick up a medal. Northampton welterweight Davey Cox was a winner there three times during his professional career in the 1980s.

Tickets for the show are available from 07725-098499 

Monday 28 January 2013

Costello now meets Butler for English crown

Thomas 'The Natural' Costello will now meet Danny Butler for the vacant English middleweight championship at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Costello had been paired with Tony Hill for the St Georges belt vacated by Nick 'Bang Bang' Blackwell, but the Southampton southpaw has decided to campaign at super-middleweight.

Costello, Butler and undercard fighters including flyweight hope Nathan Reeve will follow in the footsteps of British boxing greats when they box at the famous Black Country fight venue on Saturday, March 9. 

Promoter PJ Rowson's show will celebrate 70 years of professional boxing at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

The first show there was on March 8, 1943, and was topped by Jack London. The following year, he beat Freddie Mills for the British heavyweight title.

Maurice Cullen won the first British-title fight held at the Civic Hall by outpointing Viv Andreetti in defence of his lightweight title on November 30, 1965, and Maurice Hope, Bunny Johnson, Pat Cowdell, Pat Barrett, Hugh Forde, Wayne Elcock and Enzo Maccarinelli all won British-title battles.

Back in the 1960s, heavyweight hero Henry Cooper recorded a pair of spectacular one-round knockouts at the Civic Hall.

More recently, Elcock kept his British middleweight title with a cuts win over local favourite Darren McDermott and Enzo Maccarinelli outslugged Shane McPhilbin for the British cruiserweight belt in another thriller.

World champions Dennis Andries, Chris Pyatt and Joe Calzaghe all boxed at the venue.  

Calzaghe stopped kickboxing champ Trevor Ambrose in two rounds in November 1994 when Richie Woodhall topped the bill. He defended his Commonwealth middleweight title with an 11th-round stoppage of Art Serwano.

Rowson stages regular value-for-money shows at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and fight fans have seen fight-of-the-year contenders including Steve Saville-Baz Carey and Mark Lloyd-AA Lowe.

The undercard on March 9 also includes Chris Male, back in the ring after losing a terrific English-title scrap to Josh Warrington, and unbeatens Ricky Summers, Redditch's Andrew Robinson, Lance Brooks, Luke Paddock and Cannock ticket-seller Dave Egan, a spectacular knock-out winner in his last fight.

Stourbridge powerhouse Steven Pearce also gets back in the ring following last week's welterweight 'Prizefighter.'

Tickets, priced at £35 and £55, are available from Box Office 0870 320 7000 and more information is available from 07976-283157.    

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Champions to turn out in Brum for brave Milwall


By Tom Podmore
Some of the country's finest fighters have put their collective fistic weight behind a fundraiser to help one of the most popular men in British boxing.
Much-touted heavyweight hope Tyson Fury, the fighting Smiths of Liverpool [Paul, Stephen, Liam and Callum] and recent world title challenger Kevin Mitchell will, amongst others, join Brummie favourites Frankie Gavin [the newly-crowned British welterweight champion], Max Maxwell and Prizefighter finalist Terry Carruthers at Jon Pegg's Midlands Boxing Academy, on Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham city centre, on December 4 to raise funds for cancer sufferer Andrew Milwall.
Banbury-based Milwall, who runs the hugely-popular Boxing Predictions League, was diagnosed with an incurable and inoperable form of small cell lung cancer earlier in the year and given the earth-shattering prognosis that he only had a handful of weeks left to live.
Unfazed by the crushing news that would have stopped a lesser man in his tracks, he started an intensive course of chemotherapy in May and, more recently, a bout of radiotherapy in the hope of defying the experts' opinions and extending his life.
Though his long-term future is currently unclear - and he is meeting with doctors later this month to asses the next move - former five-time world champion Jane Couch set about arranging a free-to-attend fundraiser to honour the hard-working boxing fanatic, who has been known to spend up to 20 hours per day helping fighters sell tickets and gain the publicity they fail to receive in their local areas.
So far, a host of ex-world champions [including Birmingham-born, Telford-based former WBC super-middleweight boss Richie Woodhall], current British and Commonwealth champions, former European champions and the Second City scrapper who engaged in 300 professional contests, Peter Buckley, have all confirmed they'll be attendance.
In all, there's likely to be over 100 current and former professional boxers in attendance, along with darts personality Chris Mason and recent London 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist Zoe Robinson.
"This is the least we could do for someone like Andrew," said 'Fleetwood Assassin' Couch, the fearless Bristolian who boxed in Birmingham [at The ICC] in 2006 and who was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her ground-breaking and trail-blazing services to female boxing in Britain.
"Even after he'd been diagnosed with cancer and even after he'd come home from draining sessions of chemo, Andrew still found the time to go online and help up-and-coming boxers with home-made posters - which meant they could sell more tickets.
"The work he's done for them has not gone unnoticed and unappreciated by anyone.
"So it's come as little surprise that the support from the boxing community has been absolutely phenomenal," she continued.
"It just shows how highly-regarded he is for boxers to come from all over to put their weight behind this fundraiser and we all hope that he'll come out with his arm raised after his toughest fight."

Saturday 28 July 2012

Always-exciting Walton forced to retire

Coventry super-bantam Dougie Walton has been forced to call time on his six-year paid career.

The 30-year-old had his licence taken away from him two weeks ago when the British Boxing Board of Control re-discovered a heart murmur that has plagued him from the start.

"I've always had it [the heart defect]," admitted the former Pat Cowdell-trained banger [pictured]

"But it was becoming a rig-moral to sort it out and life got in the way."

Walton will be missed on the Midlands scene, where he was a firm favourite on Cowdell's Monday night shows in Birmingham. 

A former ABA semi-finalist and NABC finalist for Willenhall ABC, the crowd-pleasing puncher was unlucky to emerge with only a draw on his debut with bigger Dezzi Higginson in March 2006.

Higginson went onto stop feared light-welterweight Gary Reid and challenge for English lightweight honours and Dougie, only a super-bantamweight-cum-featherweight, went on a six-fight winning streak.

Shrewsbury's former top-rated amateur Neil Marston was edged out over six at the Second City's Holiday Inn, and that was followed up two months later with a five-round bull-dozing of Neil Read, who was forced to eat plenty of clubbing rights from the all-action Coventry City supporter.

Durable pair Delroy Spencer and Shaun Walton were accounted for twice each in 2007, with Dougie failing to lose a round in 22 completed sessions. Namesake Shaun, a bigger ex-top ten-rated unpaid stylist, was even dropped in the opener of their first meeting.

But he was absent from the ring for 13 months and suffered his only paid defeat - a sixth-round stoppage to Stuey Hall, who'd go onto win the British bantamweight title less than 18 months later  - on his return.

Walton had made a bright start but a combination of ring rust and Hall's bloody-minded refusal to buckle saw the heavy-handed Darlington scrapper come through with 107 seconds left of the six-threes.

Another absence followed - this time, however, it was for a month shy of three years - but he pounded-out a brace of points wins over centurion Delroy Spencer in September and December of last year [2011].

He was targeting a charge towards his first title when the Board questioned his medical and  University of Worcester student Walton, who finished with a non-too-shabby 8-1-1 (1) paid tab, added: "I had a good run and didn't want to end up another average Joe who's getting knocked around.

"I'm far too proud for that."

Friday 27 July 2012

Reeve on the hunt for British belt


Nathan Reeve aims to take a big step towards his target of the British title when he boxes for a belt on Northampton’s next big fight night. 

Promoter PJ Rowson has announced the 22-year-old from Kingsley will step into championship class in front of his hometown fans at the Park Inn Hotel on Saturday, September 8. 

Reeve, 6-1 (3), looks set to box for either the Midlands Area or British Masters flyweight title and Rowson will finalise details of the 10-round fight in the coming weeks. 

He has confirmed Blackthorn crowd-pleaser Ashley Lane will also box on the show and spelled out his plans for Reeve after steering the former Far Cotton amateur to six wins in seven professional fights. 

“This is a make-or-break fight for Nathan,” said Black Country-based promoter Rowson. 

“We need to get him ranked at flyweight and if he wins this title in Northampton we can look to step him up again. 

“I hope he will be boxing for the British flyweight title next year.” 

Potteries punching machine Chris Edwards currently holds the belt and is set to meet Commonwealth champion Kevin Satchell in a double-title dust up in Liverpool on Saturday, October 13. 

Rowson reckons Reeve, sponsored by Wellingborough-based Weee Environmental, will soon be ready to box Britain’s top eight-stone fighters after watching last month’s whirlwind win in Wolverhampton. 

The former England amateur international wiped out Fikret Remziev inside three rounds – and the spectacular one-punch finish was shown on Sky Sports’ popular Ringside programme. 

Reeve has now chalked up back-to-backs wins following his controversial loss to Mike Robinson in the quarter finals of Prizefighter last October. 

Tickets will be available in the next few weeks and further information is available from 07976-283157.

Image courtesy of Matchroom Boxing.

Thursday 5 July 2012

Carruthers confident of Eubank upset


With Chris Eubank Jnr still searching for an opponent in the week leading up to his appearance on Mick Hennessy's show at the Hand Arena, Clevedon, Somerset, there were a stream of domestic middleweights sitting at the phone hoping for a call.

But it was Jon Pegg-trained British Masters champion Terry Carruthers who's been given the nod and a chance to upset the apple-cart on Saturday night [July 7] in the West Country.

"Shocked," replied Carruthers, 26, when asked how he felt when the phone rang on Monday evening.

"I'm shocked they've picked me. It's not going to be a walkover for him," he continued. "I think they've had a quick look at my record [eleven wins and six draws in 28] and are judging me on that."

This opportunity has come at a good time for the Brummie, who is riding high after back-to-back wins over Halesowen's Kevin McCauley [a ten-round points nod for the belt he's holding above] and, last time out, an upset slaying of Nottingham's highly-rated Adnan Amar over six.

He was in training for a defence of his Masters strap against ex-English light-middleweight title challenger Nick Quigley but that was cancelled and he's going to take that fitness into the Channel 5-televised six-threes this weekend.

"I've seen all of his fights and he's alright," admitted Terry of the four-bout unbeaten [two quickly] eldest son of enigmatic former two-weight world champion Chris. "But he's had everything his own way, which he won't against me."

Carruthers taps the side of his head, winking, before adding: "I know what i have to do on Saturday. I'm very confident."

Saturday 2 June 2012

Walsh tops re-jigged Wolverhampton bill

Liam Walsh will now top the bill on the next Black Country fight night – and a clash of unbeaten cruiserweights has also been added to the show. 

Walsh, 12-0 (9), will defend his Commonwealth super-featherweight championship in front of the BoxNation cameras at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday, June 22 after Enzo Maccarinelli pulled out of his rematch against Shane McPhilbin.

Walsh, one of three boxing brothers from Cromer, launched BoxNation by winning one of the best fights of 2011.

His title defence against former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby was a wildly exciting, back-and-forth battle of wills.

Walsh picked himself off the floor to force a 10-round retirement win and the super-slick power puncher heads to Wolverhampton to make the third defence of his title.

His challenger will be announced in the next few days.

Joint promoters PJ Rowson and Frank Warren are also delighted to announce that unbeaten cruiserweights Chris Keane and Stephen Simmons will meet over 10 rounds.

Keane, 6-0 (2), is from Walsall and will have home advantage against the granite tough Scot in what could be a classic.

Both were top-class amateurs. Keane won the ABA heavyweight championship in 2010, while Simmons won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and boxed regularly for Scotland.

As professionals, Keane extended his winning record to six fights with a 40-second blow-out in his last fight and Billy Nelson-trained Simmons has won all four [two inside].

Black Country favourite Jason Welborn, 9-1 (4), defends his Midlands Area welterweight title against Derby's Scott Haywood, 22-6-1 (4), on the same bill and Midlands Area light-middleweight champion Jamie Ball, 13-0-2 (4), is also in title action in another battle of unbeatens.

He has been paired with Michal Pechacek for the vacant International Masters championship.

Pechacek is the Czech super-middleweight title and has won all 10 of his professional fights.

Northampton super-flyweight Nathan Reeve, impressive in last year’s Prizefighter, is also set to be matched, along with unbeaten prospects Ryan Hookway, 4-0, Steven Pearce, 3-0 (1), and Dave Egan, 1-0.

Tipton light-heavyweight Ricky Summers, pipped by a point in the semi finals of the 2011 ABA championship, makes his professional debut, along with Andrew Robinson.

Box office 0870 320 7000; further information is available from PJ Rowson on 07976-283157.

Saturday 21 April 2012

Site closure

Due to time constraints, there will be no more articles posted on this site.

As you can see, aside from the ratings at the start of the month, there have no pieces posted since March. 

I'd just like to thank everyone who read this site for their support over the three years i've had this running - and for those who've read my work over the past nine years on a variety of different sites, newspapers,etc [where has the time gone,eh?].

All the best

Tom Podmore.

Sunday 1 April 2012

Midlands Ratings: Heavyweight-Middleweight [April 2012]

Midlands ratings, heavyweight to middleweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months - or with no bout scheduled in the near future - is dropped from the list.]

Heavyweight 
  1. Paul Butlin [Melton Mowbray] 
  2. Andrew Ingram [Long Eaton] 
  3. John Loveday [Birmingham] 
  4. Tommy Ward [Leicester] 
  5. Gaz Johnson [Lincoln] 
  6. Mike O’Hagan [Coventry] 
  7. Michael Skierniewski [Stoke] 
  8. Scott Welton [Birmingham] 
  9. Drew Mitchell [Loughborough] 
Cruiserweight
  1. Shane McPhilbin [Nottingham] 
  2. Rob Norton [Stourbridge] 
  3. Chris Keane [Walsall] 
  4. Hastings Rasani [Birmingham] 
  5. Rhys Davies [Coventry] 
  6. Courtney Owen [Nottingham] 
  7. Simeon Cover [Worksop] 
Light-Heavyweight
  1. Ovill McKenzie [Derby]  Commonwealth Champion
  2. Callum Johnson  [Lincoln] 
  3. Elvis Dube  [Derby] 
  4. Arfan Iqbal  [Derby] 
  5. Liam Daly  [Northampton] 
  6. Adam Corbett  [Tipton] 
  7. Jody Meikle  [Scunthorpe] 
  8. Paddy Connors  [Chesterfield] 
  9. Bobby Wood  [Walsall] 
  10. Sean Sinnett  [Coventry] 
  11. Adam Stretton  [Swadlincote] 
Super-Middleweight
  1. Carl Froch  [Nottingham] 
  2. Paul David  [Northampton]  English Champion
  3. Steve Bendall  [Coventry] 
  4. Jahamaine Smyle  [Leicester] 
  5. Llewy Davies  [Coventry] 
  6. Jonjo Finnegan  [Burton]  British Masters Champion
  7. Dave Davis  [Ilkeston] 
  8. Grant Cunningham  [Stafford] 
  9. Gordon Watson  [Belper] 
  10. Ricky Gammon  [Nottingham] 
  11. Ryan Clark  [Navenby] 
  12. Manny Moussinga  [Birmingham] 
Middleweight
  1. Matthew Macklin  [Birmingham] 
  2. Cello Renda  [P’Boro/Birmingham] 
  3. Martin Concepcion  [Leicester]  Midlands Area Champion
  4. Matt Hainy  [Derby]  International Masters Champion
  5. Terry Carruthers  [Birmingham]  British Masters Champion
  6. Tony Randell  [Birmingham] 
  7. A.A. Lowe  [Newark] 
  8. Ryan Aston  [Dudley] 
  9. Kieron Gray  [Telford] 
  10. Lewis Taylor  [Dronfield] 
  11. Simone Lucas  [Nottingham] 
  12. Craig Cunningham  [Birmingham] 
  13. Steve Spence  [Scunthorpe]
  14. Mark Ketnor  [Leicester] 
  15. Leon Mrvik  [Long Eaton] 
  16. Gilson De Jesus  [Nottingham] 
  17. Simon Henry  [Leicester] 

Midlands Ratings: Light-Middleweight-Flyweight [April 2012]

Midlands ratings, light-middleweight to flyweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months - or with no bout scheduled in the near future - is dropped from the list.]


Light-Middleweight 
  1. Max Maxwell [Birmingham] 
  2. Marcus Portman [West Bromwich] 
  3. Peter Vaughan [Banbury]  
  4. Jamie Ball [Coseley] Midlands Area Champion 
  5. Nasser Al Harbi [Birmingham] 
  6. Thomas Costello [Birmingham]  
  7. Kevin McCauley [Stourbridge] 
  8. Dee Mitchell [Birmingham] 
  9. Duane Parker [Woodville] 
  10. Danny Fletcher [Nottingham] 
  11. Luke Gallear [Derby]  
  12. Terry Maughan [Nottingham] 
  13. Kyle Spencer [Brierley Hill] 
  14. Billy Smith [Worcester] 
  15. Rick Boulter [Lincoln] 
  16. Sullivan Mason [Nuneaton] 
  17. Andy Hardy [Nottingham] 
  18. Jimmy Price [Swadlincote] 
Welterweight 
  1. Frankie Gavin [Birmingham]
  2. Adnan Amar [Nottingham] 
  3. Young Mutley [West Bromwich]  
  4. Mark Lloyd [Telford] 
  5. Jason Welborn [Tividale] Midlands Area Champion 
  6. James Flinn [Coventry] British Masters Champion 
  7. Scott Haywood [Derby] 
  8. Jack Perry [Derby] 
  9. Joel Ryan [Walsall] 
  10. Sean McKervey [Coventry]
  11. Ben Lawler [Skegness]
  12. Nathan McIntosh [Nottingham] 
  13. Rob Hunt [Stafford] 
  14. Tommy Ghent [Coseley]  
  15. Steve Jevons [Swanwick] 
  16. Andrew Patterson [Birmingham] 
  17. Ryan Hookway [Leicester] 
  18. Scott Evans [Stourbridge] 
  19. Tom Bowen [Sedgley] 
  20. Shane Normoyle [Coventry] 
  21. Calum Cooper [Birmingham]
  22. Carl Allen [Wolverhampton] 
  23. Steven Pearce [Stourbridge] 
  24. Danny Clews [Walsall]  
  25. Matt Seawright [Tamworth] 
  26. Martin Gordon [Brierley Hill] 
  27. Jason Nesbitt [Birmingham] 
  28. Lee Jevons [Swanwick] 
Light-Welterweight 
  1. Dale Miles [Alfreton] 
  2. Dave Ryan [Derby] Midlands Area Champion 
  3. Chris Truman [Birmingham] 
  4. Jamie Spence [Northampton] 
  5. Leonard Lothian [Northampton] 
  6. John Connelly [Birmingham]  
  7. Sid Razak [Birmingham] 
  8. Kristian Laight [Nuneaton] 
  9. Rizwan Rasool [Dudley] 
Lightweight 
  1. Martin Gethin [Walsall] International Masters Welterweight Champion 
  2. Amir Unsworth [Sleaford] Midlands Area Champion 
  3. Scott Jenkins [Chesterfield]  
  4. Tom Shaw [Burton] 
  5. Dean Anderson [Dudley]  
  6. Rob Sharpe [Mansfield] 
  7. Andy Keates [Leek]  
  8. Steve Gethin [Walsall] 
  9. Marvin Campbell [Stoke] 
Super-Featherweight 
  1. Troy James [Coventry] Midlands Area Champion 
  2. Barrington Brown [Nottingham] 
  3. Paul Frost [Derby] 
  4. Matin Mohammed [Nottingham] 
Featherweight 
  1. Chris Male [Dudley] 
  2. Lee Glover [Tipton] International Masters Champion 
  3. Leigh Wood [Nottingham] 
  4. Saquib Amir [Halesowen] 
  5. Pavels Senkovs [Mansfield] 
Super-Bantamweight 
  1. Rendall Munroe [Leicester] 
  2. Jason Booth [Nottingham] 
  3. Dougie Walton [Coventry] 
  4. Ash Lane [Northampton]
  5. Delroy Spencer [Walsall] 
Super-Flyweight 
  1. Don Broadhurst [Birmingham]  
  2. Nathan Reeve [Northampton] 
Flyweight 
  1. Chris Edwards [Stoke] British and Commonwealth Champion 
  2. Usman Ahmed [Derby] 
  3. Sheldon Purdy [Leicester] 

Monday 26 March 2012

Successful night for Midlands duo Perry and Owen

Those who traveled from the East Midlands to watch Jack Perry and Courtney Owen box in Sheffield had to wait until 11-o-clock to see their men step into action.

But despite the lateness of their fights - taking place after the Sky Sports-televised main event - it was worth the wait as both secured four-round victories on the Ricky Hatton-promoted bill at Sheffield's Ponds Forge Leisure Centre on Saturday night [March 24].

Derby welterweight Perry [pictured] improved his unbeaten professional run to 17 [one draw, two early] with a 12-minute shut-out of winless Earl's Court-based South African Bheki Moyo [10st 10lbs], 37 and who's still searching for the elusive 'W' 42 outings into his career.

And it never looked as though it would arrive on Saturday as Ingle-trained Perry - enthusiastically supported at ringside by heavyweight gym mate Richard Towers, who'd registered an impressive five-round stoppage earlier in the night -  dominated the action.

The 24-year-old ex-One Nation ABC unpaid performer finished unmarked and it was little wonder. His footwork too nimble to be troubled by Moyo's wild swings, Jack worked off the jab throughout, followed through with hooks, before driving in lefts to the body.

A neatly-threaded uppercut and right hook to the ribs in the fourth underlined the Midlander's dominance - matched by referee Michael Alexander's 40-36 scoreline.

"The first body shot landed and he smiled," said well-supported Perry [10st 8lbs], who must be in the running to box for Jason Welborn's Area 10st 7lbs title and who's ranked at eight in MidlandsBoxing's latest ratings. "But after the 20th shot landed in the same place, he looked like he wanted out."

Talking of fighters who wanted out, Karl Bell [14st 1lb] looked like, at times, he'd rather be anywhere but between the ropes during his show-closing four-rounder with Nottingham's Courtney Owen [13st 11lbs].

The Rotherham cruiserweight entered protecting a two-fight unbeaten ledger that saw both victories arrive at the expense of Nottinghamshire-based Simeon Cover. But unlike ex-Ingle disciple Cover, who launches his punches from unusual angles, Owen came plowing forward and the gamble paid off.

There were a few raised eyebrows at ringside when referee Howard Foster lifted Courtney's glove skywards, but i thought it was the right decision. The well-respected Yorkshireman tallied a 39-37 scoreline that was a tad wider than the 39-38 conclusion i came to.

Whatever the margins of victory were, Owen's work-rate and determination won out. After exchanging jabs in the opening round, the East Midlander attacked with two-fisted vigour - rattling the 30-year-old local in the second with a short left on the ropes. 

A clash of heads left Courtney bleeding from the forehead and Karl sliced on the left eyebrow late in that same session and then Bell, now 2-1, edged a hard-to-score third for me. On my card there was all to play for in the last but it was Owen's thumping left that took the round and the fight.

The improving 25-year-old from Nottingham lost his first two professional outings [including a shocking one-round stoppage to light-hitting Reagan Denton 13 months ago] but with a bit of belief has since secured back-to-back wins over a brace of decent fighters. 

Sunday 25 March 2012

Time-keepers error costs McPhilbin British belt

Some things are just too controversial and costly to simply sweep under the carpet and forget about.

And the first-round farce which saw the bell ring to end the session between Nottingham's British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin and Enzo Maccarinelli with 47 seconds remaining is one of those.

In any circumstance it would be bad enough - after all, a round is either three minutes exactly or two minutes exactly, not a second more or a second less.

What's worse is that former WBO world cruiserweight boss Maccarinelli had been dropped heavily and had drunkenly stumbled around when trying to get himself in a vertical position.

With 47 seconds remaining on the clock and with Enzo's eyes swimming and senses scrambled, McPhilbin should have then tore into the challenger and registered a sensational one-round stoppage [or knockout] victory and won those who'd piled money on him at 150/1 massive sums. 

Or not.

Because as soon as referee Ian John-Lewis had deemed the Italian-rooted Welshman fit to continue fighting, the bell rang to end the round. The fighters are too involved in the moment to know when the bell should ring or not; they just carry on fighting until they're separated.

But that decision was disgraceful - and, with all due respect to time-keeper Martin Fallon, he should, because of the costly nature of the error, have his licence revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control and never be allowed to participate at ringside again. 

Mr Fallon's incompetence in that situation is unforgivable, and no amount of apologising will change what happened. An immediate rematch for McPhilbin won't hand him back his British title, which he won in Rocky-like fashion with a come-from-behind 12-round stoppage over Leon Williams in January. 

If you ask me - and this isn't to take away from Enzo's nervy performance after the opening session - a No Contest should be declared; it's the only fair outcome on an error that undoubtedly changed the outcome.story told about this fight.

As for what happened between the ropes during the 12-rounder, most of the action on the Paul Rowson and Frank Warren-promoted bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall was packed into the first nine minutes, with the ex-European champion [13st 7lbs 10oz] sensationally hitting the deck twice in that period. 

A sweeping left hook sent the notoriously-fragile Maccarinelli, 31, crashing down inside two minutes. His eyes swimming and legs like mounds of stacked jelly, the Swansea-based puncher was ready to go - and never has a bell saved a fighter at the right time, albeit at the wrong time for anyone that wasn't associated with Enzo.

Shane [14st 3lbs] followed up in the second with more booming punches that had a man who'd dominated world-class Wayne Braithwaite in his pomp looking decidedly unsteady. And a left and a grazing right from the well-supported Bullwell banger stuck Enzo down for a second time in the latter stages of the third, though it wasn't as damaging as the first.

The feeling at ringside was that it was only a matter of time before Carl Greaves-handled McPhilbin nailed him with a big punch again, closed matters and headed back to Nottingham with the British title in his case. But that wasn't to  be the case, and i didn't have him winning another round after that, surprisingly.

A round-by-round breakdown would be unnecessary, as it followed in the same messy and frustrating pattern of attempted punching and falling into hold . Enzo, in essence, mauled his way through the remainder and caught McPhilbin, 26, with punches as he came in - parrying the vicious-looking overhand swings that came his way.

The sessions were marred by lots of claiming, but Maccarinelli did score a knockdown in the ninth which, in truth, looked more of a push. Normal business was resumed in the eleventh, however, and though i thought the champion put in a solid effort in the final three minutes, i still scored it level for a 115-111 tally.

My way of scoring was agreed with by Victor Loughlin, with Birmingham's Terry O'Connor marking it 116-111 and Wellingborough's John Keane seeing it 115-110. The scores may have varied but they were unanimous and there was no doubting the winner, whose showing have convinced many that he should hang his gloves up before he suffers another heavy knockout defeat.

Maccarinelli improves to 35-5 (27); McPhilbin, still the Midlands Area champion and surely in line for a rematch or a crack at the vacant title if Enzo, as expected, vacates, drops to 8-3 (5).