Home Fight Results Ringside Report: Welsh boxing alive and well in Newport

Ringside Report: Welsh boxing alive and well in Newport

A night that included the ten toll for the recently passed away Sir Henry Cooper provided plenty of good, honest boxing and determination from all fighters involved and I’m sure Our ‘Enry would have loved it.

The Newport Leisure Centre was the venue for a seven-fight card, promoted by George & Dragon Promotions and in attendance to watch the action were some of Wales best loved boxers (past and present): Nathan Cleverly, Gavin Rees, Bradley Pryce, Eddie Avoth, Gary Buckland, Abner Blackstock, Jamie Arthur and the promoter for the night Steve Sims.

The main event of the evening was a ten rounder for the vacant Welsh light-middleweight title between Newport’s Lee Churcher and Bargoed’s Gary Cooper. The two had met in 2009 when Churcher won a four round points decision. This time the result wasn’t clear cut. Churcher won the opening two rounds by using good lateral movement and landing quick flurries. The next two rounds saw Cooper use an effective body attack that seemed to be swaying the bout, in his favour. Gary found more success in the fifth and was seemingly taking control of the bout. Then, Churcher pulled up in the fifth with a badly damaged right hand and was unable to continue – he looked in genuine agony.

As four rounds had been completed, the bout was decided on the referee’s scorecard and Roddy Evans, the man in charge, had it as 36 apiece, so it was declared a technical draw. Churcher’s record now stands at 5-2-1, 0 KO’s. I do feel that Cooper (3-9-1, 1 KO) was starting to take control of the fight and a rematch is a must. British Board of Control rules state that the round in which the stoppage occurs must be scored too. So, a costly mistake made by the referee and officials present.

The other title fight of the evening was for the Welsh light-heavyweight crown between two former ‘Prizefighters’ – defending champion Shon Davies of Llanelli and Jeff Evans of Talywain. Davies, the slightly heavier man at 12st 6lbs and half to Evans 12st 1/4 lbs. The action in this fight was non-stop and brutally competitive. Both men gave their all, round after round. Davies fought like a man who wasn’t about to give up his title lightly and signalled his intent by rocking Evans midway through the first. Davies won the opener for me landing harder shots.

The second round saw both getting caught repeatedly on the way in and each round that followed was closely fought but Evans landed some flashier, eye catching combos of hooks and uppercuts, to win the round. The third saw Evans in control and landing the cleaner shots and the pattern continued in the fourth, a round which Jeff landed a salvo of uppercuts at the end of the round. By the fifth Davies was bloodied but determined, as ever, to close the gap and unleash with intent on the inside. Evans’ jab and uppercuts nicked him the round and Davies was feeling the pace. (warned for gum shield coming out a second time).

The sixth round came and the high tempo continued but it was Evans (now 6-1-1, with 1 KO) who was stronger and a perfectly delivered left hook to the body at the end of the round put Shon down. He made it to his feet but retired on his stool, due to the damage to his nose. Both men gave a tremendous display and for me it was the fight of the night. Davies record now reads: 7 wins 8 losses with 3 KO wins.

In a four-twos, Darren Pryce of Newport (younger brother of Bradley) met Doncaster’s Andy Roberts in the super-bantamweight division. A lively opening round that Pryce started lively saw a dramatic and unsatisfactory conclusion. Pryce went down as he seemed to badly twist his leg (severe cramp) and was unable to continue. The referee Clark Joslyn, in consultation with officials at ringside, called the bout a first round technical draw. Both fighters weighed 8st 10lbs. Pryce is still looking for his first win and falls (literally, it seems – Ed.) to 0-2-1 while Roberts is now 15-21-6, 3 KO’s.

Cefn Forest’s Robbie Turley took on Crawley’s Robin Deakin in a four-twos bout in the super-featherweight division. Turley had won a previous meeting in 2009, at the same venue, and repeated the feat this time with good movement and displaying superior boxing skills. The scorecard was 40-36 to Turley and I had it the same. Turley improves to 10-3, 1 KO while Deakin’s falls to 1-30.

Cardiff’s powerfully built and undefeated Frankie Borg met debutant Joe Jones of Swansea in a super-middleweight clash. The slightly taller Jones was unable to use his height advantage to keep Borg at bay, Frankie often landing vicious shots to head and body and with surprisingly fast hands. It’s a credit to Jones that he made it to the final bell, as Borg put on relentless pressure in the final stanza. Borg has all the tools and ability to go on to be a really good fighter. Frankie won 40-36 and remains undefeated in three fights.

Southpaw Kerry Hope, Merthyr Tydfil, won a four-threes fight over Walsall’s Bobby Wood. Hope dominated the fight from start to finish against the game but outgunned Wood (12st 4lbs). Hope (12st 5lbs) looked a level above and won a shutout on the referee’s card, 40-36. Hope’s record improves to 14 -3, 1 KO while Wood drops to 4-7, 0 KO’s.

In the opening bout of the evening Dai Jones of Blackwood made his debut in the welterweight division against Aberystwyth’s Sean Gorman. Jones announced his arrival on the pro scene with an excellent overhand right, that dropped Gorman in the first. Gorman (1-5) recovered well and finished the round strongly. Jones continued with the pressure in the second and was fighting at a fast pace.

The third was a closer round as both men felt the pace. While the fourth saw some excellent exchanges from both men in a hard fought contest. Jones won the bout 40-36 and it was a fair result.

The night was a superb occasion and all credit to George & Dragon Promotions for doing as advertised – ‘Keeping Welsh Boxing Alive’. The bouts were all good match-ups and the three-quarters full, lively crowd got true value for money. Long may we see more nights like this.