Ringside Boxing Report: Thomas McDonagh Vs. Jason Rushton
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
On Sunday afternoon, Steve Wood of VIP Promotions hosted a seven fight bill at the newly built Leigh Sports Centre in Lancashire, England.
Top of the bill saw Thomas “Tommy” McDonagh of Manchester face Jason “The Rocket” Rushton of Doncaster in a six round light middleweight contest. It was a good first round for taller McDonagh, who had Rushton under pressure in the opener, but McDonagh seemed to get frustrated as the contest wore on and didn’t look happy between rounds.
Both men waited for their opponent to throw a punch – McDonagh the straight right and Rushton the left. But, it was a good 60-54 points win for “Storm Boy” McDonagh, who improves to 32-1-3 (6).
There was the usual big following for super middleweight Martin Murray of St. Helens as he came up against Joseph Sovijus of Slovakia. But it was a short night’s work for the man from Merseyside as he scored a first round knockout over the Slovakian, notching up his ninth win, three by KO.
Debutant Karl Place of Manchester, made an impressive start to his professional boxing career when he scored a round two TKO over Chris Kitson of Kettering in a scheduled six round lightweight contest.
Having been down once already – Kitson, bloody from a cut above his left brow – went down from a right hook and trainer Glyn Rhodes threw in the towel. This was Kitson’s second pro contest having won on points over Senol Dervis in November, 2007.
A jubilant Karl Place celebrated with trainer Bobby Rimmer.
“Dynamite” Carl Dilks of Liverpool secured his eighth win when he won on points over Welshman Jamie Ambler in a four round super middleweight contest. Dilks landed some notable straight left punches to the face of his taller opponent but sustained a swollen right eye in the process of posting a 40-37 points win. Dilks improves to 8 wins, three by stoppage.
Jon Kays of Ashton-under-lyne, had a tough contest against Birmingham boxer Sid Razak, when they met for a four round super featherweight contest. Razak seemed motivated for this fight as both men landed shots, but Kays was, in my opinion, the busier and more aggressive of the two and was no doubt relieved to get a 39-37 points win. Kays’ record now stands at 6-0 (2).
Popular Blackpool boxer Brian Rose, also had a hard nights work against Welshman Geraint Harvey. Experienced Harvey had a good first round while Rose settled in and both men scored with long-reaching lefts and rights. An ice pack was pressed to Rose’s left side during the break between rounds and he clearly was a little uncomfortable. But the Blackpool crowd-pleaser dug-in to secure a 40-37 points win which improves his record to 10-0-1 (2). Rose is scheduled to fight at his hometown next month.
Liverpudlian Mike “Robbo” Robinson faced Reading man Ibrar Riyaz, in a four round featherweight contest. It was a good bout with both men keeping busy, but “Robbo” won on all rounds to secure a 40-36 points win which lands him his third pro victory.
All in all – another great Sunday afternoon’s boxing from Steve Wood!