Ringside Boxing Report: Liam Walsh vs. Jon Kays

Click the above Image for more Photos from this Event

Saturday night, at the Robin Park Arena, Wigan, England, Frank Warren Promotions in Association with VIP Promotions – presented a fight-night which headlined Liam Walsh’s first defence of the Commonwealth British Empire Super Featherweight Title against local boxer – Jon Kays.

Liam Walsh (Cromer) v Jon Kays (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Commonwealth British Empire Super Featherweight Title

The Challenger got off to a steady start against a confident Walsh but the Champion is sharp and busy in the opening round, applying pressure in the closing minute.

Kays loses his gum-shield in the second round and makes the mistake of stopping and looking down to the canvas, Walsh sees his opportunity and ‘goes in’ without hesitating. Luckily Kays isn’t slow to react but it could have been a costly mistake.

Kays has started to settle in though and has decent second and third rounds. Walsh suffers a cut on his right brow from an accidental clash of heads at the close of round three and the two men ‘eyeball’ each other as they return to their corners.

Kays has to take a low blow in the fourth (which isn’t noted) but again he hesitates as he gestures to the Referee and – leaving himself open – Walsh goes straight in with a shot and again Kays is lucky. In the closing minute Walsh lands a neat left hook and Kays ‘wobbles’. The Champion chases after Kays who can only cover up as Walsh throws a barrage of shots until finally the local man finds himself sat on the canvas. He keeps upright for the final few seconds of the round and again both men ‘eye’ each other as they pass to their corners.

For the remaining rounds, Kays puts in a gutsy effort. Then in the eighth lands a big right to the head of Walsh who clearly ‘felt’ it. The crowds erupt as the Champion is forced to hold on. But moments later and Walsh looks strong again as both men keep centre of ring.

It’s a good round nine for Walsh who then pressures his opponent in the tenth and – landing a body-shot in the opening minute sent a battered Kays to the canvas and the fight was over. A brave effort by Kays but cool-headed ‘Destiny’ Walsh wins by tenth round KO to retain the title. He improves to 11 wins (8 by KO) while Kays drops to 13 wins (4 by KO) 2 losses (1 by KO).

Rick Godding (Bolton) v Barrie Jones (Ferndale, Wales)
8 x 3 Welterweight Contest

A close contest between these two, with Godding securing the points win 77-75. He improves to 13 wins (1 by KO) while Jones drops to 16 wins (7 by KO) 7 losses (3 by KO).

Chris Johnson (Leyland, Lancashire) v Ben Lawler (Skegness)
6 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Local boxer Johnson got off to a good start against Lawler – shaking the Skegness man in the first round, but Johno has a disastrous round two and finds himself having to ‘hold on’. Lawler is bundled down in the third and has to take a count.

It’s a better round for Johnson who then goes on to floor Lawler in the fourth. Johnson wins by fourth round TKO and improves to 13 wins (7 by KO) 3 losses (2 by KO) while Lawler drops to 7 wins (2 by KO) 10 losses (5 by KO).

Stephen Jennings (Liverpool) v Jason Nesbitt (Birmingham)
6 x 3 Light Welterweight Contest

Jennings got more than he bargained for when he faced last minute opponent Nesbitt. The Birmingham man throws few punches – instead waiting for the big shot, it comes in the second round and Jennings (nose already bloody) is wobbled by a punch to the head.

He is shook again in the third when Nesbitt lands another big punch and the Liverpool Boxer has to be content with a draw. His record stands at 5 wins (2 by KO) while Nesbitt’s record is now 9 wins (6 by KO) 125 losses (11 by KO) and 3 draws.

Mark Evans (Anglesey) v Chuck Jones (Ferndale, Wales)
4 x 3 Super Featherweight Contest

Debutant Evans secured his first pro-win on points 39-38 over Welshman Jones. A messy contest but closely matched. Jones’s record now stands at 2 losses.

Steve Harkin (Liverpool) v Terry Carruthers (Birmingham)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

It seems to be a good night for the Midlands Boxers as Carruthers gets a win on points against Harkin. Carruthers has a good first round finishing strongly. He boxes aggressively tonight and in the second frame it seems Harkin is unsettled.

Carruthers wins on points 39-38 and improves to 8 wins (1 by KO) 8 losses (4 by KO) and 5 draws. Harkin drops to 5 wins (1 by KO) 1 loss and 1 draw.

Ryan Farrag (Liverpool) v Delroy Spencer (Wolverhampton)
6 x 2 Bantamweight Contest

Experienced Spencer had a good first round against Farrag who looked unsettled. Infact it was a good contest for the Wolverhampton man against a sometimes ‘sloppy’ Farrag. But Farrag did enough to secure the points win 59-56 to get his second win. Spencer drops to 12 wins (1 by KO) 113 losses (12 by KO) and 3 draws.

Kevin Satchell (Liverpool) v Anwar Alfadli (Sheffield)
4 x 3 Flyweight

Satch wins on points 40-36 against Ingle Boxer – Alfadli. Satch improves to 4 wins no losses, while Alfadli drops to 1 win 12 losses (1 by KO) and 2 draws.

Rob Beech (St.Helens) v Michal Skierniewski (Stoke-on-Trent)
6 x 2 Heavyweight Contest

These two had barely thrown a shot when they were asked to stop because the ringside medics were unavailable. A few minutes later and fighting resumed with Beech winning on points 60-55. His record stands at 5 wins no losses while Skierniewski drops to 3 wins (1 by KO) 9 losses (5 by KO) and 1 draw.

James Burke (Leigh) v Jason Ball (Doncaster)

4 x 3 Middleweight Contest

Debutant Burke had a disastrous first outing when he suffered a fourth round TKO against ‘Daddy Cool’ Ball. Ball improves to 3 wins (2 by KO) and 1 loss.

D.T.Price (Wigan) v James Tucker (Doncaster)
4 x 3 Light Heavyweight Contest

Debutant Davey Price notched up his first pro-win on points 39-37 but it was no easy ride against experienced Tucker who sent in some thumping big shots in the third round. Tuckers record now stands at 3 wins (1 by KO) 36 losses (2 by KO) and 3 draws.