Ringside Boxing Report: Wigan, England
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Last night at the Robin Park Centre, Wigan, England, Steve Woods / VIP Boxing promoted a fight night of seven contests – on the eve of Ricky Hatton’s ‘HomeComing.’
The ‘Bill’ was to have headlined the much anticipated re-match between Michael Gomez and Peter McDonagh but Gomez is now to fight Amir Khan on 21st June. Gomez was ringside to support stablemate – Jack Arnfield of Bobby Rimmers’ Boxing Academy.
Top of the ‘bill’ saw Brett Flourney of Merseyside outpoint Ukranian Vladimir Borovski in a six-round welterweight contest. Southpaw Flourney landed some solid body-shots and right punches but Borovski is a tough fighter who seemed undeterred by the shots.
The Ukranian is quite a character and did quite a bit of showboating! Calling Flourney ‘on’ – gesturing that it didn’t hurt – what else have you got!’ and laughing. He even took time to glance up at the crowds and ‘egg’ them on! But Flourney kept focused and won the contest by 60-54. He didn’t look happy with the performance as he went back to his corner – shaking his head, but it’s another win for the Mersey-man who improves to 9 wins and no losses.
Chris O’Brien of Manchester gained his second win after a difficult points victory over Kristian Laight of Nuneaton. Laight kept up the pressure to put up a tough contest for O’Brien, but O’Brien’s right punch was prominent. O’Brien wins on points 58-57 to take his record to 2 and 0.
Chris ‘Johno’ Johnson of Manchester faced Darren Gethin of Walsall in a six-round welterweight contest. Southpaw ‘Johno’ found success with straight rights to the head and Gethin suffered a bloody nose in the first half of the contest.
After putting in a good effort in round four – Gethin seemed to think he’d finished the fight after the bell signalled the end of the round! He will have wished it HAD finished – as he suffered a cut under his left eye in the fifth and the fight was stopped. O’Brien wins by TKO round five taking his record to 8 wins and 1 loss.
Liverpools’ Michael ‘Robbo’ Robinson clearly dominated the four-round super-bantamweight contest against Mike Holloway of Leeds achieving a 40-36 points win. Using both right and left shots to the face – Robinson seemed to be a fraction of a second ahead of Holloway each time. Robinson improves to 2 and 0.
Next up was popular Jack Arnfield of Bobby Rimmers Academy. Arnfield always gets huge support from the crowd and last night was no exception! Particularly as it was his 19th birthday on Thursday. The crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him as he started the fight. Taller by four inches, Arnfield ’loomed’ over his opponent in this six round light middleweight contest.
Young Arnfield was too much for ‘Brummie Bulldog’ Adams and after a number of solid shots mid-way through round three, Referee Keith Garner stopped the contest – deeming Adams had taken enough punishment. A delighted Arnfield wins by TKO round three taking his record to 6 straight wins (3 by KO).
Martin Murray of St.Helens, Liverpool, faced Dean Walker of Sheffield in a six-round super middleweight contest. Popular Murray won on points at 60-54 after a good effort from Walker. Murrays record now stands at 6 wins (1 by KO) and no losses.
It was a good ‘scrap’ between heavyweights Scott Mitchell and Paul Bonson. Standing at six foot three inches Mitchell from Bolton towered over the ‘stockier’ Bonson. ‘Workhorse’ Bonson from Yorkshire gave less-experienced Mitchell a good fight but the Bolton lad won on points 5957 and improves to 2 wins and 1 loss.