Ringside Boxing: Liam Walsh Vs Mark McKray

Click the above Image for more Photos from Jane Warburton

Saturday night, at the Northbridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, Yorkshire, Wayne Carmichael promoted a fight-night billed as ‘The Homecoming’. The seven-card bill featured a six round Light-Welterweight Contest between popular Tyrone Nurse and William Warburton, in which Nurse won decisively on points (60-55). And, topping the bill, Liam Walsh versus Mark McKray saw the crowd applauding both men for their efforts – having provided a hard-fought all-action Light-Welterweight Contest with Walsh the victor on points.

(Patrick) Liam Walsh (Halfax) v Mark McKray (Tottenham)
6 x 3 Light-Welterweight Contest

Walsh had a good outing against Jamaican-born McKray.

From the ‘off’ – Walsh was very ‘quick-footed’, nicely slipping shots as he dodged out the way of McKray.

Walsh keeps busy and catches McKray with a big shot at the end of the fourth - pressuring him back against the ropes before the bell signals the end of the round.

The fifth was a great round for Walsh! Mixing head shots with punishing body-shots, Walsh subjects his opponent to a range of punches, but McKray is some ‘tough cookie!’ and soaks up the shots. Infact, it’s a wonder he kept upright, yet he gets in with shots of his own throughout the contest – to head and body. It’s an all-action fight and the crowds cheer and clap their appreciation of both boxers at the end of the contest!

Walsh wins on points 60-55 and improves to 7 wins (3 by KO) while McKray drops to 2 wins (1 by KO) 5 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw

Tyrone Nurse (Huddersfield) v William Warburton (Halifax)
6 x 3 Light-Welterweight Contest

Nurse, who should have faced Ban Lawler, found himself up against last minute opponent and local man – Warburton, instead. Nurse – the classier boxer – looked calm and focussed as he started the fight. A cut to the left eye area (between lid and brow) in the second frame was quickly worked on by cuts-man Nigel Hardman and looked fine as Nurse started the third. Warburton looked motivated for this fight – watching his opponent intently and landing with a right or left to the head as Nurse drops his guard. Nurse targets the body of his opponent, dipping low and ‘spearing’ the mid-region of his torso. I felt Nurse’s concentration wavered in the fourth – but he ‘picked it up’ again in the fifth – pressuring Warburton back on the ropes.

Nurse wins on points 60-55 and improves to 17 wins (1 by KO) while Warburton drops to 3 wins 19 losses (2 by KO) and 2 draws.

Alistair Warren (Huddersfield) v Bobby Wood (Walsall)
4 x 3 Middleweight Contest

It’s a steady first round as they begin this four-rounder, but ‘Burt’ picks-it-up in the second round and lands some decent body punches – forcing Wood to take a knee in the neutral corner. Referee Michael Alexander administers the count but Wood stays on one knee.
Warren wins by TKO round 2 and improves to 7 wins (4 by KO) 1 loss (1 by KO) and 1 draw. Wood drops to 4 wins 8 losses (3 by KO)

Richard Bitner (Halifax) v Andy Hardy (Nottingham)
4 x 2 Welterweight Contest

Debutant Bitner notches up his first pro-win against late opponent Hardy.

The local man lands with rights to the head in the opener and Hardy does well to survive the round, although he ‘gives it back’. Bitner ‘ups the anti’ in the second frame – unleashing big head shots and Hardy again does well to stand firm. The Nottingham man gets a count in the opening half minute of the third but continues the fight. He is subjected to a lot of punches throughout this contest and does very well to see it to the final bell (he must be tough!).

Bitner wins on points 40-36

Hardy drops to no wins 3 losses.

Jason McCalmon (Huddersfield) v Jody Meikle (Scunthorpe)
4 x 3 Super-Middleweight Contest

Smiley Meikle is off-target as he throws some swinging shots that are just short of their mark. (I wrote in my notepad – ‘Swing and Grab’!)

McCalmon finds success with the left to the head and Meikle - whose nose is bloody in the final frame – whoops with delight as if to say ‘I like it’!

McCalmon wins on points 40-37 and improves to 4 wins (1 by KO) while Meikle drops to 1 win 7 losses.

Scott Gladwin (Halifax) v Delroy Spencer (Wolverhampton)
4 x 3 Super-Bantamweight Contest

Debutant Gladwin faced tough veteran – Spencer, in his first outing.

Spencer misses his mark a few times with some wild swinging shots which are just short of target. Gladwin lands a big left just before the bell ends the second frame and begins to find his target more in the third. Spencer lands a short right hook to the head which Gladwin ‘felt’, but there’s big support for the Debutant and he goes on to secure the points win 60-55.

Spencer drops to 14 wins (1 by KO) 116 losses (12 by KO) and 3 draws

Shahzad Hussein (Halifax) v Robert Studzinski (Llanelli, Wales)
4 x 3 Light-Heavyweight Contest

Debutant Hussein had a first pro-fight I’m sure he’d rather forget - against Polish-born Studzinski ! Studzinski landed thumping big punches right from the first round. Hussein looked like he might ‘go’ in the second frame as he’s pressured by his opponents’ hefty shots, but then ‘Shuzzy’ comes back with shots of his own and now it looks like Studzinski is wobbling!

Shuzzy – motivated by the big support! – puts in the effort but further heavy punches follow in the fourth and he stumbles backwards. Referee Michael Alexander jumps in to stop the contest.

Studzinski wins by 4th round stoppage and improves to 1 win (1 by KO) and 1 loss.