Boxing News Boxing News
At Preston Guild Hall last night, local man Scot Fitzgerald won the Super-Welterweight International Challenge Title by stopping Lithuanian Andrej Cepur in round 4. Cepur did well to survive the stinging body-shots but was taking too much punishment from ‘Fitzy’ and Referee Darren Sarginson waved the contest off mid-way through the fourth. The second title fight of the night saw Qasim Niaz of Blackburn dominate his contest with Lithuanian Arvydas Trizno to win the Welterweight – International Challenge Belt on points (80-72).
The Steve Wood – VIP Promotions show featured two title fights and action from six undercard bouts, full results below.
Entertainment for the night came in the form of one spectator at ringside who clearly felt his assets were more worthy of a look than the ring card girls – so, during the headliner, stripped off next to the ring and held the round 2 number aloft while parading the ring in his boxer shorts, much to the amusement of onlookers!
Also present at the show were Matty Askin, Luke Blackledge, Craig Bowen-Price, Steve Foster (Snr) and Jack Arnfield.
Scott Fitzgerald (Preston) v Andrej Cepur (Klaipeda, Lithuania)
8 x 3 Super Welterweight International Challenge Belt
Fitzgerald gave a sharp performance, sending in some splintering body-shots which Cepur took with regularity.
Referee Sarginson stopped the contest in 1-57 minutes of Round 4 – Cepur taking too much and not giving much back.
Fitzgerald wins by TKO round 4 to win the Challenge Belt
Qasim Niaz (Blackburn) v Arvydas Trizno (Klaipeda, Lithuania)
8 x 3 Welterweight – International Challenge Belt
Unusually, Niaz also enters the ring wearing a mask, but not of the Halloween variety (!)
A tidy fight, Niaz dominating with the long-reaching head-shots to win on points 80-72
Alex McCloy (Blackpool) v Sam Wall (Maidenhead)
4 x 3 Middleweight Contest
Wall proved a good opponent for McCloy and it was a close contest. McCloy pulls Wall down in the first minute of the third round and is told off by Referee Mark Lyson. Wall is warned for going in with the head in round four.
McCloy wins on points 39-38
Lloyd Campbell (Liverpool) v Sonny Whiting (Rochester, Kent)
4 x 3 Middleweight Contest
It was a messy fight between these two with Referee Sarginson telling them to ‘tidy it up’ in round two. Whiting was deducted a point in round three. Campbell ‘The Viking’ gets the win on points 40-36
Ben Swarbrick (Preston) v Craig Derbyshire (Doncaster)
4 x 3 Super Bantamweight Contest
Swarbrick was cut on the corner of the left brow early in round one and then cut on the right brow in the third. A good fourth and final round for Derbyshire and the fight is scored a draw 38-38
Draw 38-38
Shakeeb Ali (Blackburn) v Liam Richards (Melksham)
4 x 3 Super Lightweight Contest
Mid-way through round three Richards seemed to hesitate momentarily and seconds later was knocked out cold. Referee Sarginson immediately stopped the contest as Richards was tended to in the ring. After a short time (surprisingly) Richards was able to stand for the decision.
Shakeeb ‘The Storm’ Ali wins by KO (1-30 of round 3)
R.P Davies (Blackpool) v Mike Byles (Warwick)
6 x 3 Super Middleweight Contest
A great round four and Davies is made to ‘dig in’ to secure the points’ win 58-57
Jack Cullen (Little Lever, Bolton) v Dwayne Grant (Debut)
4 x 3 Super Middleweight
Debutant Green entered the ring wearing a ‘scream’ mask.
In round 2 Green slips on the ring advertising but remains upright and carries on. He throws in some big rights but finds himself on the canvas in the third round (on his knee in the neutral corner).
A very stop-starty fight. Green is deducted a point.
Cullen wins on points 40- 35
