Frank Haroche Horta Vs Dean Byrne

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On Friday night, the VIP Promotions / Frank Warren Co-promoted fightnight at Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, should have headlined Frankie Gavins Inter-Continental Welterweight Title defence against Frank Haroche Horta, but Gavin pulled out of the contest on Thursday and Irish-man Dean Byrne stepped in at the last minute.

Dean Byrne (Crumlin, Dublin) v Frank Haroche Horta (Lyon, France)
12 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Frenchman – Horta – forced the retirement of Byrne after eight rounds of their scheduled twelve round Welterweight Contest. Gutsy Byrne – having fought just one week earlier – put in a good effort against his French opponent but was taking a number of head-shots after the opening rounds and finally was retired by his corner citing a hand injury at the end of the eighth. Southpaw Horta wins the contest but no Title was on the line.

Horta improves to 27 wins (10 by KO) 8 losses and 5 draws.
Byrne drops to 15 wins (6 by KO) 1 loss (by retirement)

Ronnie Heffron (Oldham) v Arvydas Trizno (Lithuania)
8 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Popular Ronnie Heffron out-punched Arvydas Trizno of Lithuania to force a retirement at the end of the fourth. It was virtually ‘punch-bag’ practice for the busy Oldham boxer, but he was deducted a point for delivering a low blow (although there were others that were suspect).

Heffron improves to 8 wins (4 by KO) while Trizno drops to 9 wins (1 by KO) 15 losses (3 by KO) and 2 draws.

Matthew Hall (Manchester) v Alexey Ribchev (Rousse, Bulgaria)
6 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

Hall was making a return to the ring after a 13 month break, but the Manchester man struggled to get in to a rhythm although he picked it up in the last couple of rounds. Ribchev ‘The Fish’ wins on points 58-57.
A very honest Matthew Hall said afterwards that he agreed with Referee Steve Greys scorecard and that he would have to go away and consider his future.

Ribchev improves to 12 wins (3 by KO) 3 losses and 1 draw.
Hall drops to 23 wins (16 by KO) 4 losses (3 by KO)

Kirk Goodings (Sunderland) v Robin Deakin (Crawley)
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest

Goodings wins on points.

Goodings improves to 6 wins (1 by KO) no losses, while ‘Rockin’ Robin Deakin drops to 1 win 38 losses (8 by KO)

John Quigley (Liverpool) v Kristian Laight (Nuneaton)
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest

Quigley wins on points and improves to 5 wins (1 by KO).

While likeable Laight’s record now stands at 6 wins 106 losses (4 by KO) and 6 draws.

Mark Evans (Anglesey, Wales) v Dan Naylor
4 x 3 Super Featherweight Contest

Evans notches up his third win on points. Naylor drops to 1 win and 2 losses.

Shayne Singleton (Colne) v Sean Gorman (Aberystwyth, Wales)
4 x 3 Light Welterweight Contest

‘Singy’ aka ‘Shayne the Pain’ had his usual army of noisy supporters ! He picked up the pace in the fourth round to send Gorman to the canvas. Gorman got up as he was counted out by Referee John Latham.

Singletons record improves to 10 wins (3 by KO) , while Gorman drops to 1 win (1 by KO) 8 losses (1 by KO)

D.T.Price (Wigan) v Nick Gigg (Bristol)
4 x 3 Light Heavyweight Contest

‘Davey’ Price made quick work of his opponent. He pressured the Bristol Man back on the ropes under a barrage of shots and Referee Steve Grey is forced to step in.

Price notches up his second win (1 by KO), while Gigg drops to 4 losses ( 3 by KO).

Luke Blackledge (Accrington) v Joe Ryan Walsh (Debut)
4 x 3 Middleweight Contest

Blackledge looked stunned to see Debutant Walsh fall to the canvas in their opening round. Walsh (clearly stunned himself!) couldn’t get up off the canvas. Medics tended to the first-timer and he was able to stand for the decision in favour of Blackledge.

The bizarre knockdown came almost in delayed reaction to a sweeping left hook which seemed to skim across the temple and top of Walsh’s head. Blackledge improves to 5 wins (2 by KO).

Liam Taylor (Middleton) v Johnny Greaves (East Ham)
4 x 3 Light Welterweight Contest

‘Dynamo’ Taylor wins on points against entertaining – Johnny Greaves.

Taylor improves to 2 wins, while Greaves drops to 3 wins (1 by KO) 70 losses (10 by KO).