Ringside Boxing: The Beginning

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At Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent, on Saturday night, three title fights earned victories for three local fighters.

In the Hatton Boxing promoted fight-night billed as ‘The Beginning’, Nathan Gorman of Nantwich scored quick success with a stoppage win over David Howe of Sheffield to take the Heavyweight Central Area Title, local man Kieran McLaren (Stoke) won the Light-Welterweight British Challenge belt by outpointing a very game Chris Adaway of Plymouth. And a thrilling, all-action contest saw Craig Morris of Ludlow win the Midlands Area Title by outpointing (98-94) Nottingham’s Nathan McIntosh.

The traditional ‘ten bells’ were tolled to mark the sad loss of boxer Mike Towell, who passed away following a contest in Glasgow last Thursday. Anyone wishing to donate money to the family of Mike – can do so through the funding page set up by Ricky Hatton: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Iron-Mike-towell?utm_id=60&utm_term=v47KYpm4e

Full Results as follows:

Nathan Gorman (Nantwich) v David Howe (Sheffield)
10 x 3 Heavyweight – Central Area Title

Gorman floors Howe in the closing half minute of the opening round to win the Central Area Title.

Kieran McLaren (Stoke) v Chris Adaway (Plymouth)
8 x 3 Light-Welterweight British Challenge Title

It was a good first round for Adaway who stayed busy throughout the contest, although he gets sloppy in the fourth – throwing wild swinging shots, then slips to the canvas (no knockdown). Fighting resumes and McLaren steps it up. Round seven was another good round for the Plymouth man who catches the hometown favourite with uppercuts and headshots. His left jab was also notable throughout.

A close contest but McLaren gets the nod on points (77-76) to win the title.

Craig Morris (Ludlow) v Nathan McIntosh (Nottingham)
10 x 3 Welterweight Midlands Area Title

This was a thrilling scrap between these two who kept up the fast pace throughout with McIntosh being edged along the ropes for much of the contest. Round three saw McIntosh lose his gum-shield for the first of many occasions. Morris’s face was bloody from a nose injury. McIntosh seemed to lose energy in the fifth – his gloves looking heavy by the end of the round.

A great fight with bags of effort from these two men. Morris getting the win on points to take the title (98-94).

Jake Haigh (Macclesfield) v Tomas Kugler (Brno, Czech Republic)
4 x 3 Super-Middleweight Contest

Haigh got off to a flyer with a second round stoppage on his professional debut.

Referee Reece Carter stopped the contest in round 2 with Kugler under too much pressure from a barrage of shots.

Haigh wins by TKO Round 2

Rob Hunt (Stafford) v William Warburton (Atherton)
6 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Hunt looked more determined than usual against Warburton who is a better boxer than his record implies. Warburton had a great round five and sneaked the points win from the Stafford man 59-56.

Sam Evans (Wednesbury) v Andrej Cepur (Klaipeda, Lithuania, via Russia)
6 x 3 Light-Welterweight Contest

Referee Reece Carter jumped in to stop the fight in round 6, with Cepur under too much pressure.

Evans wins by TKO Round 6

Owen Jobburn (Stoke-on-Trent) v Sylwester Walczak (Swarzedz, Poland)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight Contest

Debutant Jobburn gets off the mark with a points win(40-36) over Walczak – who had similarities (in my opinion) to Brit journeyman – Jody Meikle.

Chris Blaney (Navan, Ireland) v Mark Till (Stoke-on-Trent)
4 x 3 Super-Middleweight Contest

Till seems to growl (possibly with frustration?) in the third round and the boxing gets a bit frenzied.

Blaney sustains a cut to the bridge of the nose in round 4. He gets the points win 40-36