Ringside Boxing Report: Chris Male vs. Liam Richards

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On Sunday at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England, First Team Promotions (PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson) hosted an afternoon of boxing entitled ‘Crunchtime at Lunchtime!’ which featured three Title bouts.

Wayne Downing (West Bromwich) v Sean McKervey (Coventry)
Vacant British Masters Welterweight Title

Having retired once to concentrate on his career as a Trainer – West Bromwich man – Wayne Downing then found himself looking at a Title shot (!) But the Trainer from the Wednesbury Gym struggled to settle in to this contest and – while he gets off to a slow start – McKervey came out fired-up.

The shorter Coventry man kept Downing under pressure and in the second – Downing was floored then sustained a cut to the left brow. He got up just in time as he was counted again in the third, but he was clearly unsteady and Referee Shaun Messer called a halt to the contest.

McKervey wins the British Masters Title by third round TKO. His record now stands at 7 wins (1 by KO), 2 losses and 1 draw, while Downing drops to 5 wins (1 by KO) and 9 losses (6 by KO).

Martin Gordon (Dudley) v Richie Ghent (Coseley)
International Masters Welterweight Title

It was a messy start to this contest with lots of holding on. But Ghent picks up the pace after the first couple of rounds. Gordon seems to lose momentum – then sustains a cut to the left eye in the sixth.

The Dudley man finds himself on the canvas in the closing seconds of the seventh and doesn’t come out for the eighth. A jubilant Ghent falls to his knees in obvious delight at winning the title.

Ghent improves to 6 wins (2 by KO) and no losses while Gordon drops to 2 wins, 8 losses (1 by KO) and 3 draws.

Chris Male (Dudley) v Liam Richards (Melksham)
Vacant British Masters Featherweight Title

It was a case of somebody’s ‘0’ had to go in this title clash! But it was Dudley man – Male, who notched up his ninth pro-win (no losses) when he secured a good points victory over Wiltshire Boxer – Richards.

Using the uppercut with success – Male sends Richards to the canvas in the fourth, but the fight went the distance and Male got the 98-92 points win to take the British Masters Title (presented by Rob Norton of Stourbridge).

Male improves to 9 wins and no losses, while Richards adds a loss to his record – now at 6 wins and 1 loss.

Other undercard action on Sunday:

Jamie Ball (Coseley) v Lester Walsh
4 Round Middleweight Contest

Southpaw Ball (aka Bully) used long-reaching lefts and rights to target the head of his opponent to secure a 40-36 points win. Ball improves to 10 wins (1 by KO) and no losses, while ‘Leggy’ Walsh drops to 2 wins, 8 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw.

Lee Glover (Tipton) v Elemir Rafael (Slovakia)
4 Round Featherweight Contest

Debutant Glover notched up his first pro-win when he made light work of Slovakian Rafael. The excited Tipton man – over-powered Rafael forcing a second round TKO.

Rafael drops to 6 wins, 39 losses (14 by KO) and 1 draw.

Kevin McCauley (Halesowen) v Keiron Gray (Telford)
4 Round Welterweight Contest

McCauley seems to be back to a winning streak. In a closely fought contest against ‘Slammer’ Gray – the Halesowen man secured a 39-37 points victory.

He improves to 6 wins, 17 losses (3 by KO) and 2 draws, while Gray loses his perfect winning record to drop to 5 wins (1 by KO) and 1 loss.