Ringside Boxing: Martyn Grainger Vs Mike Stafford

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Last night, at Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, England, Steve Wood / VIP Promotions hosted a Fight-night billed as ‘Are you Ready?’ which included two Title bouts.

Martyn Grainger (Heywood) v Mike Stafford (Southport)
10 x 3 Cruiserweight Contest
International Masters Cruiserweight Title

It’s a confident start from the Champion – Grainger, but he gets a bloody nose in round two and it seemed he may have been distracted by it. Stafford is hurt by Graingers solid body punches but he starts to settle in to the fight and lands some body shots of his own. He looked stronger as the fight progressed – finishing the fourth round strongly and having a better round five.

Stafford gets the points win 98-94 and improves to 9 wins (1 by KO) 1 loss to take the belt.
Grainger drops to 8 wins (3 by KO) 5 losses (2 by KO).

Warren Tansey (Middleton) v Kieron Gray (Telford)
10 x 3 Super Middleweight Contest

Vacant British Masters Middleweight Contest

A thrilling contest which sees both men shaken at different times. But (for me) it was a re-invigorated ‘Slammer’ Gray that stepped in to the ring last night! His confidence and self-belief grew throughout the fight and he couldn’t fail to hit Tansey with the wide slugging head shots which had Tansey on the canvas in round four.

Despite his huge effort though – Gray could not do enough to sway Referee Phil Edwards’s decision and Tansey wins the Title on points 97-94.

Tansey improves to 9 wins (3 by KO) 1 loss and 1 draw, whileGray drops to 5 wins (1 by KO) 6 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw.

Mark Evans (Holyhead, Wales) v Michael Stupart (Hayes)
6 x 3 Super Featherweight Contest

Another exciting contest which sees Evans enjoy a big first round in which he ‘wobbles’ his opponent. But it’s a closely fought contest with Stupart settling in after the opening frame.
Evans gets the points win 39-38, his record improves to 6 wins (1 by KO) while Stupart drops to 4 losses (2 by KO)

Aaron Michael, jnr (Middleton) v Anthony Trow (Aberaman, Wales)
4 x 3 Super Middleweight Contest

Michael took a few headshots in the opening round but landed some solid headshots of his own later in the contest. He almost ‘skipped’ around the ring in the fourth and final round (!)

Michael gets the win on points and improves to 3 wins (1 by KO) and 1 draw, while Trow drops to 1 win 2 losses (1 by KO)

Jimmy Kelly (Wythenshawe) v Billy Smith (Worcester)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

Kelly gets the points win against experienced Smith 40-36 to notch up his second pro-win. Smith drops to 13 wins 112 losses (8 by KO) and 2 draws.

Taz Apergis (Wythenshawe) v Sid Razak (Birmingham)
4 x 3 Light Welterweight Contest

Greek-born Apergis ‘encircles’ experienced Razak targeting the head with long-reaching shots.
Apergis wins his second pro fight on points 40-37, while Razak drops to 8 wins (3 by KO) 87 losses (4 by KO)

Daniel Szynkiewicz (Trafford Park) v Rick Boulter (Lincoln)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

Popular Polish-born Szynkiewicz suffered a cut to the left brow from a clash of heads in the first round which prompted Referee John Latham to seek advice. The contest became very messy and Referee Latham was kept busy (!) A close contest and difficult to score but Szynkiewicz gets the points win 39-38 to notch up his second pro-win on points. Boulter drops to 1 win 20 losses (2 by KO) and 3 draws.

Liam Taylor (Middleton) v Andrew Patterson (Birmingham)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Taylor got off to the better start in this four rounder with ‘Paddy’ Patterson under pressure in round one, but Taylor’s knee touched the canvas in round two (while backed in to Patterson’s corner) and it wasn’t counted. Taylor’s punishing body-shots gets him the points win 40-36

He improves to 4 wins (1 by KO) while Patterson drops to 5 wins (4 by KO) 30 losses (4 by KO) and 3 draws.

Zak Smith (Liverpool) v James Ancliff (Aberdeen, Scotland)
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest

An all-action contest sees Smith get the points win (39-37) against late opponent – Ancliff.
Smith notches up his second pro-win of two on points.
Ancliff drops to 11 wins (2 by KO) 20 losses (6 by KO) and 2 draws