Ringside Boxing: Chris Edwards Vs Anwar AlFadli

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Friday night, at the ornate Queens Theatre, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Mick Carney and Fight Factory hosted a night of boxing which featured local boxers.

After a number of changes to the original Bill the headline contest saw British and Commonwealth Flyweight Champion – Chris Edwards of Stoke-on-Trent face tricky Ingle Boxer Anwar AlFadli of Sheffield in a six by two minute contest. But likeable Edwards must have wondered what he’d let himself in for when he had an awkward first round against a dangerous Alfadli then sustained a cut to the left brow from an accidental clash of heads in the third. The cut didn’t look too bad and fighting continued but it opened up in the fourth round spurting blood and referee Rob Chalmers took him across to the ringside Doctor for a look. Fighting resumed and the contest went to points – a draw (58-58).

Disappointed Edwards quickly left the ring – probably to get the (now) two cuts (both brows) attended to.
Edwards’ record now stands at 17 wins (4 by KO) 14 losses (3 by KO) and 4 draws.
Alfadli’s record stands at 1 win 26 losses (2 by KO) and 3 draws.

Josh McLaren (Stoke-on-Trent) v Arturas Zbarauskas (Lithuania)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Debutant McLaren notched up his first win with a good points victory over his Lithuanian opponent.
A confident and focussed McLaren landed decent head-shots during the fast paced action.
Zbarauskas gets his second loss of two on points.

Jimmy Doherty (Stoke-on-Trent) v Rick Boulter (Lincoln)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

Doherty was back after a three year break and had to endure a messy fight against awkward experienced Boulter. The local man didn’t look overly confident but got the points win.
Doherty improves to 9 wins and 2 losses, while Boulter drops to 1 win 23 losses (3 by KO) and 3 draws.

Andy Keates (Leek) v Youssef Al Hamidi (Dewsbury)
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest

A fast paced all action four rounder from two quick-footed boxers which sees Keates get the points win 40-37
Keates improves to 5 wins no losses.
Al Hamidi drops to 11 wins (1 by KO) 44 losses (1 by KO) and 2 draws.

Kev Hanks (Stoke-on-Trent) v Aivaras Balsys (Lithunia)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

It was a confident start from debutant Kev Hanks but his opponent stepped it up at the end of the second round. Hanks came out for the third a bit more ‘fired-up’ but was caught with a headshot mid-way through the round and seemed to struggle to get back in to his rhythm as Balsys upped the pressure. Hanks did better in rounds one and two with the Lithuanian having the better last two rounds.
Hanks just pips it with a 39-38 points win
Balsys gets his second loss of two on points.

Chris Goodwin (Chester) v A Parkinson
4 x 3 Lightweight Contest

Both men slugged it out in round one but Goodwin loses his gumshield twice during this opening round.
His opponent is warned for holding Goodwins head down.
Goodwin gets the points win and improves to 15 wins 2 losses and 1 draw.