Boxing Ringside Report: Undercard Of Eastman – Ashira
|
|
There were cracking support bouts on the Eastman – Ashira bill Friday night in Dudley, England.
Dean Hickman (West Bromwich) vs Gary Reid (Stoke): This was the main undercard bout of the evening and the best fight on the bill. Reid had lost to Hickman two years ago but this time it was a different story from the Stoke man who has faced some of Britain’s best at weights ranging from super feather to light welter. Just as in their first bout, the Midlands Area Light Welter title was at stake but given the level of action on display, observers would not have been surprised if the full WBC belt had been on offer.
Hickman attempted to keep the shorter Reid at the end of his jab and at one point in the first round did suceed in shaking up the older veteran with a searing right hand . The tide turned in the second however when Reid smashed through the defenses of Hickman to mount a fearsome body assault that had the West Bromwich man searching for answers.
The third frame found the two combatants inflicting heaps of punishment upon the other but Hickman suddenly found himself of the canvas from a Reid bodyshot, beating the count at the end of the round.
The fourth round featured an all-out effort from Hickman to regain lost ground but this melee approach suited the stocky Reid far better as the seasoned campaigner simply tore into the body of his bitter rival. Hickman’s frame wasn’t up to the test as the 27 year old found the canvas three times during the round but somehow found a way to survive the session.
The next round turned out to be the final hurrah for Hickman, who by now was defending his body to stop the crushing tactics of his opponent. Reid took full advantage of this lowered guard and launched a perfectly timed left hook that caught Hickman flush on the chin and dumped the battered man to the canvas for the fifth and final time of the bout, which was waved off at this point.
Reid improves to 13-16-1 (8) and adds the Midlands Area Light Welter title to a trophy cabinet that already features two British Masters titles at the same weight.
Hickman falls to 15-3-1 (5) and plans on dropping down to lightweight for future bouts.
|
|
|
|
Billy Corcoran (Wembley/Galway) vs. Steve Gethin (Walsall): The two featherweights went to war during this eight round contest that featured journeyman Gethin giving as good as he got but ultimately losing a close one to former English Super Feather titlist Corcoran, 17-2-1 (7), by 78-76. Gethin, 10-31-2 (6), has now lost 10 straight contests but put on an outstanding performance.
Martin Gethin (Walsall) vs. Carl Allen (Wolverhampton): Six round lighweight contest ended in a draw, 57-57
Paul Truscott (Middleboroug) vs. Riaz Durgahead (London): Four round featherweight contest won by Truscot on points.
Dean Harrison (Wolverhampton) vs Judex Meemea (London): Harrison stops Meemea in the last frame of a scheduled six round light welter bout.
Sam Horton (Stourbridge) vs. Tony Stones (Wakefield): Four round middleweight affair won by Horton on points, 40-37.
Kevin Buckley (Chester) vs. Peter Buckley (Birmingham): Battle of the Buckleys won by Kevin on points after four rounds at super feather.
Martin Gordon (Dudley) vs. Kristian Laight (Nuneaton): Laight wins on points at light welter after four rounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
