Boxing News Boxing News
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Friday night at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England Frank Maloney promoted a fight night which was headlined by the clash between Jamie Moore and Michele Piccirillo, as they fought for the vacant European Light Middleweight title. Salford man Moore won the title on a third round TKO over Italian Piccirillo.
But there was some great undercard action which also saw the second fight from Irish Bronze Olympic Medallist Darren Sutherland as he took on Belarusian Siarhei Navarka in a six round super middleweight contest.
In the opening half of the round, Sutherland lands a number of head punches which sees Navarkaʼs face already reddened from the blows. Keeping up the pace, ʽDazʼ whips out the left and straight rights and though Navarka keeps his gloves up and head down, Sutherlands punches get through.
Round two and Sutherland stays busy, continuing to use the jab which rocks back the head of the Belarusian with some regularity now.
At the end of the second, Navarka plonks down heavily on his stool in the corner – heʼs been caught with a lot of head shots and, from my ringside position, itʼs getting uncomfortable to watch.
In the opening half minute of round three, Sutherland lands some heavy, accurate shots to the face of Navarka and thankfully, referee Phil Edwards steps in to stop the contest.
Darren ʽThe Dazzlerʼ Sutherland wins by TKO round three to notch up his second professional win. Afterward, Sutherland said ʽI need to work on more body-shotsʼ.
Prizefighter Champion Martin Murray of St.Helens, took on Mikheil Khucishvili of Georgia in a six round middleweight contest.
Itʼs a busy first round for both men, but with just ten seconds of the frame remaining – a solid right lands to the face of Khucishvili and his head snaps back from the blow. He keeps up a high defence, but Murray’s shots are managing to slip through the middle of the guard and itʼs a good end to the round for popular Murray.
Mid-way through the second, a left body-shot followed by a number of head-shots land and all Khucishvili can do is defend himself. In fact, he hardly throws a punch!
Khucishviliʼs nose starts to bleed during the third frame and Murray works on the uppercuts. Khucishvili keeps a tight defence – throwing the occasional left hook to the body of Murray – but they donʼt land cleanly, although they sound like heavy punches.
Khucishvili throws two big left hooks to the body as he presses Murray back on the ropes, but Murray almost shoves him off and gets back to work unfazed by his opponents encounter. Khucishviliʼs nose begins to pour blood in the closing seconds of the round.
During the intermission, referee Steve Grey checks that Khucishvili is alright to continue and keeps a close eye on him as they come out for the fourth round. With almost a minute gone – the Georgian half turns as he wipes the blood away from his nose and Murray – seeing his chance – goes in with a left-right followed by a body-shot.
Fighting continues with Murray keeping up the pressure until referee Grey jumps in to end the contest. Murray wins by TKO with 1 minute 47 seconds remaining of round four.
Murray’s record now stands at 13 wins, 4 by KO.
Other results:
Matthew Edmonds (Newport, Wales) v Kakhaber Avetisian (Georgia)
6 sound super bantamweight contest
Edmonds wins on points (60:54). His record now stands at 10 wins (2 by KO) 2 losses (1 by KO)
Alex Matvienko (Bolton) v Paul Royston (Sheffield)
6 round middleweight contest
ʽOne Man Riotʼ Matvienko wins on points (60:54) and improves to 13 wins (4 by KO) and 1 loss
Jack Arnfield (Blackpool) v Dee Mitchel (Birmingham)
4 round light middleweight contest
Arnfield wins on points (40:36) to notch up his ninth win (3 by KO) and no losses.
Karl Place (Manchester) v Baz Carey (Coventry)
4 round light welterweight contest
Place wins on points (40:36) His record now stands at 4 wins no losses
Jonathan Kays (Ashton under Lyne) v Barrington Brown (Nottingham)
6 round super featherweight contest
ʽ2Smokesʼ Kays found himself on the canvas after a countering right from Brown in the closing seconds of round five. It was a good contest but Kays was the busier of the two men and went on to secure a 58:56 points win. His record now stands at 7 wins (2 by KO) and 1 loss
Rick Godding (Bolton) v Kristian Laight (Nuneaton)
4 round welterweight contest
Godding wins on points (40:36) and improves to 6 wins and no losses
Travis Dickinson (Newcastle upon Tyne) v Patrick Mendys (Reading)
4 round light heavyweight contest
Debutant – Dickinson wins on points (39:36) over fellow debutant – Mendys
