Ringside Boxing Report: Matt Attack
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Sunday at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan , England, Steve Wood of VIP Promotions hosted another great afternoon of boxing. Billed as “Matt Attack” – the event headlined “Bolton’s One Man Riot” – Alex Matvienko, as he faced Lee “Brown Sugar” Edwards of Sheffield for the vacant British Masters Light Middleweight Championship.
This was a close contest which saw both fighters land with body-shots that could be heard around ringside. Both men were wobbled early in the fight, but Matvienko looked to be suffering as the fight went on.
Putting on the pressure – Matvienko has Edwards on the ropes and follows with a left hook to the body which hurt Edwards in round two. Sustaining a cut in round four that was exaggerated by Glyn Rhodes’s taunts from the opposing corner – only made things worse for the Bolton man.
In my opinion, Edwards looked the smoother of the two. The pace was relentless in this contest with both fighters scoring shots – Edwards throwing swinging left hooks to head and rights to the body, Matvienko digging in with some right body shots and straight-left punches.
Shockingly – Matvienko could be seen head-butting Edwards in round five and a chorus of gasps rang out around ringside spectators. For this, Referee Steve Gray deducted a point which was to prove disastrous for Matvienko.
Looking bloodied and worn – Matvienko gave all he could in the final round, but it was Edwards’s arm that was raised aloft by Gray – and by just one point, which must have hurt even more.
Lee Edwards wins the British Masters Light Middleweight Championship on points 95-94 and improves to 8-1 (1) while Alex Matvienko drops to 11-1-2 (4).
Undercard action included:
Bantamweights Gary Davies (St.Helens) vs. Samaila Badu (Ghana)
Despite going down himself in round three and sustaining a cut to the left eye, Davies scored his second win by KO over Ghanaian boxer Badu. Davies wins by TKO round 5 and improves to 7-2-1 (5).
Welterweights Chris Johnson (Manchester) vs. David Kirk (Nottinghamshire)
“Johno” Johnson secured a points win over workhorse Kirk. No longer sporting his usual “mop” of hair – Kirky proved a good “test” for Southpaw Johnson. Johnson wins by points and improves to 9-1 (5) after six rounds.
Super featherweights Lee Jennings (Liverpool) vs. John Vanemmenis (Biddeford)
A big body-shot hurt Vanemmenis in the early stages but he came back with a couple of big punches to the head of Jennings. It was short-lived though and the Devon Man was floored by the Liverpudlian in round two. Jennings wins by KO, gaining his second pro win.
Light middleweights Jack Arnfield vs. Jon Harrison
Popular Blackpool fighter Arnfield had his opponent down twice in the first round. Tattooed Harrison – who looked wobbly – continued the fight to the last bell but it was the taller, rangey Arnfield who secured another points win after four rounds to take his record to 7-0 (3).
Middleweights Martin Murray (St.Helens) vs. Carl Wild (Sheffield)
There’s always big support for Murray and Sunday was no exception! But it was a short night for the St.Helens boxer as Carl “Born 2 B” Wild hit the canvas in round two and was unable to continue. Murray notches up his eighth win with no losses.
Light welterweights Rick Godding (Bolton) vs. Johnny Greaves (London)
Godding wins on points after four frames and improves to 4-0.
Heavyweights Scott Mitchell (Bolton) vs. Ben Harding (Plymouth)
Mitchell won on points over “Big Ben” after six 2 minute rounds and improves to 3-1.