Ringside Boxing Report: John Fewkes vs. Gary Reid
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At a packed Doncaster Dome last night, Frank Maloney, in association with John Rushton Promotions, staged the much anticipated fightnight, billed as “Nowhere to Run! Nowhere to Hide’.
Michael Gomez and Carl Johanneson were the headliners but first up was an equally exciting match-up between Sheffield’s likeable “John “Fireball†Fewkes as he faced Stoke’s Gary “The BodySnatcher†Reid over eight rounds of lightweight action.
Within the first 10 seconds of the opening round, the unbeaten Fewkes sustained a cut above the bridge of his nose, following a clash of heads. Fewkes blinks momentarily as the blood flows but he shrugs it off and gets on with the fight. Fewkes is a real “crowd-puller’ and chants of “Fewkey, Fewkey†build up around the arena.
Fewkes gives a cocky impression when he fights, back half-turned towards his opponent and plenty of cheeky feints but Reid has faced some of the best in Britain and keeps focussed.
Round two and Fewkes continues to look the busier of the two men, with Reid patiently picking his shots. By the end of the round, I don’t think there is an inch of canvas that Fewkes hasn’t covered! And Trainer Glyn Rhodes looks happy with his work so far.
Reid is getting encouragement from stable-mate Scott Lawton as he listens to instruction from Impact Boxing’s corner.
In the last minute of Round three, referee Howard Foster calls a break in the fight while he warns trainer Glyn Rhodes about shouting out instructions. Glyn points at his corner man and shouts “It was him!â€.
Round four and a confident Fewkes continues to keep up the pressure, moving around the ring and constantly encircling Reid. Midway through the round, referee Foster warns Fewkes for holding down.
Then, a right hand from Reid glances off the right cheek of Fewkes, followed by a wild, swinging uppercut which just misses. Moments later Fewkes reminds Reid with a shot that snaps’back the head of the Stoke man.
Round five and the ‘Fireball’ continues to dance around the ring with Reid standing firm in the middle – Reid seems happy to counterpunch throughout this fight. “Come on Gary Reid!†shouts Lawton.
Round six was a good one for Reid as he put together some better shots and had Fewkes on the back foot more rather than letting Fewkes control the fight.
Round seven and Fewkes is still skipping around the ring, showing no signs of tiring despite being busy, and covering more ground, throughout the fight.
Reid comes out with more energy in round eight and backs Fewkes up in the corner, landing a couple of solid bodypunches. Referee Foster pulls the two men apart, warning Fewkes to break as soon as he is told.
The crowd continue to chant “Fewkey, Fewkey†faster and louder to spur their guy on.
Reid seems to have done his best work in the last couple of rounds and gets in some decent shots in the closing minute of the eighth and final frame.
Reid and his corner shake their head in disgust as Referee Foster raises the hand of John Fewkes in victory. Still unbeaten, Fewkes wins the bout 77-75 to move to 16-0 (2).
Afterwards, Fewkes spoke maturely as he told Sky TV’s Ed Robinson that he had boxed to plan and knew that with someone as strong as Gary Reid, he had to outbox him in order to win.
Reid drops to 13-18-1 (8) with the loss.
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All Undercard Action….
Lightweight Gary Sykes, 6-0 (3), of Dewsbury stopped Sheffield’s Dwayne Hill, 8-4 (1), early during a scheduled six rounds.
Heavyweight David Ingleby, 4-20 (2), of Morecambe stopped Dean O’Laughlin, 3-1 (2), of Hull in the fifth of a scheduled six two minute rounder.
Leeds light middleweight southpaw Danny Reynolds, 9-0-1 (5), outpointed hard-nosed Bethnal Green based Latvian, Gatis Skuja, 4-9-4 (2), over six.
Cruiserweight Billy Boyle, 4-0 (2), of Sheffield, comfortably defeated John Anthony, 5-7 (3), of Rotherham on points after six.
Fast handed light heavyweight Tony Salem, 6-0 (2), of Finchley defeated former Commonwealth Champ Ovill McKenzie, 13-8 (4), of Derby, after six close rounds.
Bantamweight Ross ‘The Boss’ Burkinshaw, 4-0 (2), of Sheffield drew with Bradford’s Shaun Docherty after six rounds.
Super middle Lee Nicholson, 3-9-1 (0), of Retford outpointed Ryan Rowlinson, 2-6-2 (0), of Swinton after four rounds.
Lightweight Steffy Bull, 25-5-1 (5), of Doncaster defeated Nuneaton’s Kristian Laight, 5-35-5 (0), after four rounds.
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