Ringside Boxing Report: Craig Lyon vs. Anthony Hanna
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Saturday night at the Sutton Leisure Centre in St. Helens, England, Promoter Oliver Harrison presented a fight card billed as ‘Blast Zone’ which featured nine contests.
As an added attraction, six boxers of note were introduced into the ring including undefeated middleweight prospect Martin Murray, ex-British welter champ and world title challenger Michael Jennings and former WBC, European and British welterweight champion John H. Stracey.
Scott Mitchell (Bolton) v Howard Daley (Preston)
6 Round Heavyweight Contest
A close contest between these two ‘pals’. Both putting in bags of effort but Mitchell secures the points win 58-56 and improves to 6 wins (0 by KO) and 1 loss. Daley drops to 2 wins (1 by KO), 19 losses (6 by KO) and 1 draw.
Rob Beech (St.Helens) v Chris Woollas (Epworth)
6 Round Heavyweight Contest
Southpaw Woollas found himself on the canvas at the end of the fifth from a right to the forehead. Despite looking ‘wobbly’, he continued but was bundled in to the corner by Beech during the remaining seconds to the bell.
Another big punch landed from Beech in the sixth and final round but Woollas stood firm to see it out to the end of the contest. Beech wins on points, 60-53, and improves to 4 wins and no losses, while Woollas drops to 18 wins (3 by KO), 44 losses (21 by KO) and 8 draws.
Danny Boswell (Bolton) v Daniel Thorpe (Sheffield)
6 Round Welterweight Contest
At just 19, pro debutant Boswell had a tough first opponent in veteran Thorpe. But the very fast-handed Bolton lad got stuck-in straight from the bell and Thorpe looked under pressure from the start. “Go for it Mayweather†– someone shouted from the crowd!
Boswell whips in lightning-fast body shots which sees Thorpe down on one knee in the second frame. Boswell seems a little more patient by round four and experienced Thorpe manages to get in with a couple of head-shots.
In round five, Thorpe is bundled through the ropes but it’s not a knockdown and he pauses to retrieve his shorts, which have slipped below his guard. Thorpe catches Boswell with a neat right hook to the head, but the debutant takes it well and continues to pursue his opponent.
Boswell notches up his first pro-win on points while Thorpe drops to 23 wins (9 by KO), 90 losses (22 by KO) and 3 draws.
Steve Harkin (Liverpool) v Paul Royston (Rotherham)
6 Round Super Middleweight Contest
Harkin dominated centre of ring, preying on experienced Royston. Body-shots in round five saw the Rotherham man on one knee – unable to make the count – and Harkin secures a knock-out win.
Harkin improves to 3 wins (1 by KO)with no losses, while Royston drops to 4 wins (2 by KO) and 37 losses (1 by KO).
Peter Gallagher (Kirkby) v Billy Graham (Kincardine, Scotland)
6 Round Welterweight Contest
This was a messy brawl of a fight, with both men being told to clean it up by Referee Mike Alexander! Pro debutant Gallagher gets the points win, 60-55, to notch up his first pro-win while Graham (not to be confused with trainer Billy ‘The Preacher’Graham!) drops to 1 win and 1 loss.
Paul Morris (Preston) v Mike English (Manchester)
6 Round Cruiserweight Contest
English entered the ring with what seemed like very stiff legs and Harkin definitely had the better first round. Both men, each making their pro debut, came out for the second with fists flying but it was English who came off worst – under a barrage of shots – and he was stopped mid-way through the second.
Morris gets his first pro win by TKO, while English gets his first loss.
Ross Gardner (Whitley Bay) v Lee Duncan (Sheffield)
4 Round Light Heavyweight Contest
Debutant Gardner secures his first pro-win on points, 40-37, while Duncan’s record now stands at 3 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw.
Craig Lyon (St. Helens) v Anthony Hanna (Birmingham)
Bantamweight Contest
A recent change of opponent saw home-boy Lyon take on the likable veteran, ‘Spanner’ Hanna. Lyon dominated to secure a 60-54 points win taking his record to 8 wins (2 by KO) and no losses, while Hanna drops to 22 wins (8 by KO, 90 losses (4 by KO) and 8 draws.
Mike Hall (Preston) v Scott Churchill (Heanor)
6 Round Middleweight Contest
Two debutants – both hoping for a first win! And both got loads of support from the crowds despite being last on the bill. But it was Hall who came out victorious, scoring a TKO over Churchill in the fourth.