Midlands Boxing

Courageous Carruthers Calls It Quits

2014-05-16T11:35:00.001+01:00

By Tom Podmore.

Boxing is a sport where the statistics often don’t paint the full picture

Put it this way: a fighter could have a flawless, glossy-looking ledger and be seen as a prospect, yet that may not be the case.

Conversely, a boxer with a patchy record is often dismissed as nothing more than a journeyman.

Again, that may not be the case.

Looking for a prime example of the latter? Step forward Terry Carruthers, the ex-Midlands Area and British Masters champion and Prizefighter finalist who has announced that he’s retiring from the sport he’s served so well at just 28.

Though he was set to box for the British Masters Bronze title against Matchroom Sport-promoted Ryan Aston in Dudley next month, the always-entertaining Brummie, after some recent soul-searching, decided that, coupled with trouble making the 11st weight he feels he’s strongest at, family has to come first in his life.

I’m sure that’ll come as a relief to his girlfriend and his two small children.

On the surface, an up-and-down 15-17-6 [1] professional tab doesn’t make for pleasant reading – and, as mentioned earlier on, many less-clued-up people would think Terry wasn’t capable of competing. That’s incorrect.

A paid fighter since 2005, when he turned over with legendary Second City fight figure Nobby Nobbs, Carruthers lost a close one against Andy Cosnett on one of Pat Cowdell’s then-four-a-year Monday night shows.

He then drew against then-unbeaten Jon ‘Boy’ Whiteman, stopped future Midlands Area boss Darren Gethin on a cut, before meeting debut opponent Cosnett at the Holiday Inn again.

I was there on that Monday night and thought that Carruthers, then with hair, had done more than enough to take his tally to 2-1-1. As it was, Derby official Paul Thomas marked the six-twos all-square at 58 apiece and, instead, Terry’s record read 1-1-2.

Another draw followed, against Scotsman Paul Burns, before losing twice inside the opening stanza – to Brighton-based Aussie Justin Murphy and future British title challenger Barrie Jones, a skilled southpaw.

Sandwiched in-between those blow-outs, though, was a win over capable and then-touted Stoke light-middleweight Danny Johnston. That performance illustrated Carruthers’ un-tapped potential, with his cleaner, sharper blows and decent footwork piling-up the points for a victory that looked wider for me than the 59-58 tally handed down.

Yet the showing that got my attention was the following year, in February 2007. Brought in as a last-minute replacement to meet Pat Cowdell-trained Sean McKervey, a Coventry-based portsider who had two wins and a draw in three and would later go on to take Midlands Area and Masters crowns, Carruthers was fantastic.

Let’s get this straight from the off: the Lea Bank warrior dominated the six-rounder. The records show that Terry O’Connor marked it 58-56, yet it was much wider than that. McKervey, as ever, was brave and tough but had no answer to Terry’s speed, accurate-punching and polish.

However, that was the last boxing would see of Carruthers until November 2009, when he re-appeared with Errol Johnson training and managing him – and the Second City scrapper came back with the bit well and truly between his teeth.

A draw with Yorkshire first-timer Neil Beevers looked close, but a four-round domination over Trevor Crewe, dubbed ‘Wrecking Crewe’ and touted by Boxing News as a serious prospect, showed that, if matched correctly, this was man who could put the defeats of the past behind him.

Crewe’s two victories had both come inside the scheduled distance – and the well-built Wearsider went eagerly and expectantly searching for stoppage three. He didn’t find it. Instead, Carruthers absorbed the hammer-fisted blows, fought back harder, and didn’t drop a single session over the four. Crewe hasn’t boxed since.

A couple of defeats and a couple of wins followed for the one-time doorman, but a draw with Liam Smith, who is currently the British and Commonwealth champion at 11st and whose only blemish is that fight with Carruthers, raised his stock further.

He pushed Brian Rose, another man to have held the Lonsdale Belt at light-middleweight and who’s set to fight for the WBO world title in the summer, all the way over six – and Jon Pegg, who was to handle Terry later on, told me that Steve Wood admitted that the decision could have so easily have gone the other way.

Again, there were downs - a couple of stoppage defeats to Joe Selkirk and Kris Carslaw, robberies against Kreshnik Qato, and points defeats against Liam Cameron and Steve O’Meara [both close but deserved] – but better days were just around the corner.

He captured his first professional title with a ten-round victory over capable Black Country-based Kevin McCauley in 2012 and then, two months later on the undercard of Carl Froch’s stoppage win over Lucian Bute in Nottingham, beat-up and dropped [twice] avoided ex-English champion Adnan Amar on the way to a resounding 60-53 scoreline.

Despite being two divisions heavier, Chris Eubank Jr, undefeated in four, was offered to the blood-and-guts Brummie next – and the offer was quickly accepted, in spite of it being five days before they were due to see action. A decent pay-day and exposure on Channel 5, Terry didn’t hesitate.

"I've seen all of his fights and he's alright," admitted Terry in the run-up to the six-rounder with the eldest son of enigmatic former two-weight world champion of the same name. "But he's had everything his own way, which he won't against me."

He was right – and the much-touted prospect was given a 59-57 nod after 18 minutes in which the underdog met him in the middle and pushed him all the way.

Arguably, he gave Eubank the toughest test [both up to and since] of his short professional career, which has been high on statements that have put fans, promoters and fighters backs-up alike.

Though that fight was on terrestrial television, he’s probably best-remembered for his fearless and all-heart showing on Sky Sports’ Prizefighter, the three-threes knockout tournament where he reached the final. He gave everything he had in every fight to get there, including a scalp of Nav Mansouri in the semi, and was stopped on his feet in the final by stylist Nigerian Larry Ekundayo – totally exhausted but with a new fan-base.

The heavily-tattooed Midlander was hoping for more exposure following his brave showings – and there was even talk of him meeting Brian Rose again, this time for the Blackpool-based, Birmingham-born boxer’s British title. It never happened.

Disappointingly for Terry fights became increasingly hard to come by and he was forced to take one in Denmark against Torben Keller, which he lost via decision over eight.

He won the Midlands Area title in October with a superb showing of skill to win over ten against capable Steve Spence, but lost it two months later in heart-breaking fashion in a Birmingham vs Black Country showdown against former British welterweight title challenger Jason Welborn.

Carruthers, leading on all scorecards [two margins of 68-66 and one of 69-65] in a fight that doubled as an eliminator for the Lonsdale Belt at light-middle, was stopped on cuts in the eighth.

Since then, he’s only boxed once – a ten-round points defeat to bigger and heavier Nick Blackwell in the West Country – and admitted that he wasn’t big enough to compete with a fighter who gave Billy-Joe Saunders an excellent argument for the British title.

But he can look back proudly, as can his family, on an exciting career that doesn’t begin to tell the full story when browsing the oft-misleading figures on BoxRec.

There’s a lesson there for many.

Reeve lines up British title challenge

2013-02-21T10:14:00.000+00:00

Nathan Reeve is weighing up his big-fight options after being handed the date for his next fight.

The British Masters super-flyweight champion is back in the ring on a big show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday, March 9.

An injury to his right hand has kept Reeve out of action since his terrific title-winning effort in front of a sell-out crowd at the Park Inn Hotel last September.

His dramatic eight-round stoppage of Terry Broadbent also secured him the Northamptonshire Leisure Trust's Sportsman-of-the-Year award and No 2 spot in top website BoxRec's ratings.

British champion Paul Butler is currently No 1 and while Reeve could challenge him this year, he could take another route to the Lonsdale belt.

Promoter Frank Maloney hopes British and Commonwealth flyweight champion Kevin Satchell will move on to box for European and possibly world honours this year and that would create an opening for Reeve in the eight-stone division.

"I want to be mixing with the best this year - and I've got to look at what my options are," said the 23 year-old from Kingsley.

"I'm highly rated at super-flyweight, but I could make flyweight if an opportunity came along. I'm sure I would still be strong at the weight.

"It's been really frustrating since my last fight.

"The physiotherapist said I had tendon damage and told me to rest my hand. I still went out running, but I'm a fighter, not a runner and it's been hard.

"I've established my place as one of the top fighters in the country and haven't been able to build on it.

"I've got to keep fighting, keep winning and take my chances when they come my way."

The show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall will mark 70 years of boxing at the Black Country fight venue.

Promoter PJ Rowson is planning a day of celebration and all boxers who fought at the Civic

Hall are invited to pick up a medal. Northampton welterweight Davey Cox was a winner there three times during his professional career in the 1980s.

Tickets for the show are available from 07725-098499

Costello now meets Butler for English crown

2013-01-28T13:11:00.003+00:00

Thomas 'The Natural' Costello will now meet Danny Butler for the vacant English middleweight championship at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Costello had been paired with Tony Hill for the St Georges belt vacated by Nick 'Bang Bang' Blackwell, but the Southampton southpaw has decided to campaign at super-middleweight.

Costello, Butler and undercard fighters including flyweight hope Nathan Reeve will follow in the footsteps of British boxing greats when they box at the famous Black Country fight venue on Saturday, March 9.

Promoter PJ Rowson's show will celebrate 70 years of professional boxing at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

The first show there was on March 8, 1943, and was topped by Jack London. The following year, he beat Freddie Mills for the British heavyweight title.

Maurice Cullen won the first British-title fight held at the Civic Hall by outpointing Viv Andreetti in defence of his lightweight title on November 30, 1965, and Maurice Hope, Bunny Johnson, Pat Cowdell, Pat Barrett, Hugh Forde, Wayne Elcock and Enzo Maccarinelli all won British-title battles.

Back in the 1960s, heavyweight hero Henry Cooper recorded a pair of spectacular one-round knockouts at the Civic Hall.

More recently, Elcock kept his British middleweight title with a cuts win over local favourite Darren McDermott and Enzo Maccarinelli outslugged Shane McPhilbin for the British cruiserweight belt in another thriller.

World champions Dennis Andries, Chris Pyatt and Joe Calzaghe all boxed at the venue.

Calzaghe stopped kickboxing champ Trevor Ambrose in two rounds in November 1994 when Richie Woodhall topped the bill. He defended his Commonwealth middleweight title with an 11th-round stoppage of Art Serwano.

Rowson stages regular value-for-money shows at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and fight fans have seen fight-of-the-year contenders including Steve Saville-Baz Carey and Mark Lloyd-AA Lowe.

The undercard on March 9 also includes Chris Male, back in the ring after losing a terrific English-title scrap to Josh Warrington, and unbeatens Ricky Summers, Redditch's Andrew Robinson, Lance Brooks, Luke Paddock and Cannock ticket-seller Dave Egan, a spectacular knock-out winner in his last fight.

Stourbridge powerhouse Steven Pearce also gets back in the ring following last week's welterweight 'Prizefighter.'

Tickets, priced at £35 and £55, are available from Box Office 0870 320 7000 and more information is available from 07976-283157.

Champions to turn out in Brum for brave Milwall

2012-11-06T09:59:00.001+00:00

By Tom Podmore

Some of the country's finest fighters have put their collective fistic weight behind a fundraiser to help one of the most popular men in British boxing.

Much-touted heavyweight hope Tyson Fury, the fighting Smiths of Liverpool [Paul, Stephen, Liam and Callum] and recent world title challenger Kevin Mitchell will, amongst others, join Brummie favourites Frankie Gavin [the newly-crowned British welterweight champion], Max Maxwell and Prizefighter finalist Terry Carruthers at Jon Pegg's Midlands Boxing Academy, on Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham city centre, on December 4 to raise funds for cancer sufferer Andrew Milwall.

Banbury-based Milwall, who runs the hugely-popular Boxing Predictions League, was diagnosed with an incurable and inoperable form of small cell lung cancer earlier in the year and given the earth-shattering prognosis that he only had a handful of weeks left to live.

Unfazed by the crushing news that would have stopped a lesser man in his tracks, he started an intensive course of chemotherapy in May and, more recently, a bout of radiotherapy in the hope of defying the experts' opinions and extending his life.

Though his long-term future is currently unclear - and he is meeting with doctors later this month to asses the next move - former five-time world champion Jane Couch set about arranging a free-to-attend fundraiser to honour the hard-working boxing fanatic, who has been known to spend up to 20 hours per day helping fighters sell tickets and gain the publicity they fail to receive in their local areas.

So far, a host of ex-world champions [including Birmingham-born, Telford-based former WBC super-middleweight boss Richie Woodhall], current British and Commonwealth champions, former European champions and the Second City scrapper who engaged in 300 professional contests, Peter Buckley, have all confirmed they'll be attendance.

In all, there's likely to be over 100 current and former professional boxers in attendance, along with darts personality Chris Mason and recent London 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist Zoe Robinson.

"This is the least we could do for someone like Andrew," said 'Fleetwood Assassin' Couch, the fearless Bristolian who boxed in Birmingham [at The ICC] in 2006 and who was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her ground-breaking and trail-blazing services to female boxing in Britain.

"Even after he'd been diagnosed with cancer and even after he'd come home from draining sessions of chemo, Andrew still found the time to go online and help up-and-coming boxers with home-made posters - which meant they could sell more tickets.

"The work he's done for them has not gone unnoticed and unappreciated by anyone.

"So it's come as little surprise that the support from the boxing community has been absolutely phenomenal," she continued.

"It just shows how highly-regarded he is for boxers to come from all over to put their weight behind this fundraiser and we all hope that he'll come out with his arm raised after his toughest fight."

Always-exciting Walton forced to retire

2012-07-28T12:21:00.001+01:00

Coventry super-bantam Dougie Walton has been forced to call time on his six-year paid career.

The 30-year-old had his licence taken away from him two weeks ago when the British Boxing Board of Control re-discovered a heart murmur that has plagued him from the start.

"I've always had it [the heart defect]," admitted the former Pat Cowdell-trained banger [pictured].

"But it was becoming a rig-moral to sort it out and life got in the way."

Walton will be missed on the Midlands scene, where he was a firm favourite on Cowdell's Monday night shows in Birmingham.

A former ABA semi-finalist and NABC finalist for Willenhall ABC, the crowd-pleasing puncher was unlucky to emerge with only a draw on his debut with bigger Dezzi Higginson in March 2006.

Higginson went onto stop feared light-welterweight Gary Reid and challenge for English lightweight honours and Dougie, only a super-bantamweight-cum-featherweight, went on a six-fight winning streak.

Shrewsbury's former top-rated amateur Neil Marston was edged out over six at the Second City's Holiday Inn, and that was followed up two months later with a five-round bull-dozing of Neil Read, who was forced to eat plenty of clubbing rights from the all-action Coventry City supporter.

Durable pair Delroy Spencer and Shaun Walton were accounted for twice each in 2007, with Dougie failing to lose a round in 22 completed sessions. Namesake Shaun, a bigger ex-top ten-rated unpaid stylist, was even dropped in the opener of their first meeting.

But he was absent from the ring for 13 months and suffered his only paid defeat - a sixth-round stoppage to Stuey Hall, who'd go onto win the British bantamweight title less than 18 months later - on his return.

Walton had made a bright start but a combination of ring rust and Hall's bloody-minded refusal to buckle saw the heavy-handed Darlington scrapper come through with 107 seconds left of the six-threes.

Another absence followed - this time, however, it was for a month shy of three years - but he pounded-out a brace of points wins over centurion Delroy Spencer in September and December of last year [2011].

He was targeting a charge towards his first title when the Board questioned his medical and University of Worcester student Walton, who finished with a non-too-shabby 8-1-1 (1) paid tab, added: "I had a good run and didn't want to end up another average Joe who's getting knocked around.

"I'm far too proud for that."

Reeve on the hunt for British belt

2012-07-27T12:00:00.004+01:00

Nathan Reeve aims to take a big step towards his target of the British title when he boxes for a belt on Northampton’s next big fight night.

Promoter PJ Rowson has announced the 22-year-old from Kingsley will step into championship class in front of his hometown fans at the Park Inn Hotel on Saturday, September 8.

Reeve, 6-1 (3), looks set to box for either the Midlands Area or British Masters flyweight title and Rowson will finalise details of the 10-round fight in the coming weeks.

He has confirmed Blackthorn crowd-pleaser Ashley Lane will also box on the show and spelled out his plans for Reeve after steering the former Far Cotton amateur to six wins in seven professional fights.

“This is a make-or-break fight for Nathan,” said Black Country-based promoter Rowson.

“We need to get him ranked at flyweight and if he wins this title in Northampton we can look to step him up again.

“I hope he will be boxing for the British flyweight title next year.”

Potteries punching machine Chris Edwards currently holds the belt and is set to meet Commonwealth champion Kevin Satchell in a double-title dust up in Liverpool on Saturday, October 13.

Rowson reckons Reeve, sponsored by Wellingborough-based Weee Environmental, will soon be ready to box Britain’s top eight-stone fighters after watching last month’s whirlwind win in Wolverhampton.

The former England amateur international wiped out Fikret Remziev inside three rounds – and the spectacular one-punch finish was shown on Sky Sports’ popular Ringside programme.

Reeve has now chalked up back-to-backs wins following his controversial loss to Mike Robinson in the quarter finals of Prizefighter last October.

Tickets will be available in the next few weeks and further information is available from 07976-283157.

Image courtesy of Matchroom Boxing.

Carruthers confident of Eubank upset

2012-07-05T13:18:00.000+01:00

With Chris Eubank Jnr still searching for an opponent in the week leading up to his appearance on Mick Hennessy's show at the Hand Arena, Clevedon, Somerset, there were a stream of domestic middleweights sitting at the phone hoping for a call.

But it was Jon Pegg-trained British Masters champion Terry Carruthers who's been given the nod and a chance to upset the apple-cart on Saturday night [July 7] in the West Country.

"Shocked," replied Carruthers, 26, when asked how he felt when the phone rang on Monday evening.

"I'm shocked they've picked me. It's not going to be a walkover for him," he continued. "I think they've had a quick look at my record [eleven wins and six draws in 28] and are judging me on that."

This opportunity has come at a good time for the Brummie, who is riding high after back-to-back wins over Halesowen's Kevin McCauley [a ten-round points nod for the belt he's holding above] and, last time out, an upset slaying of Nottingham's highly-rated Adnan Amar over six.

He was in training for a defence of his Masters strap against ex-English light-middleweight title challenger Nick Quigley but that was cancelled and he's going to take that fitness into the Channel 5-televised six-threes this weekend.

"I've seen all of his fights and he's alright," admitted Terry of the four-bout unbeaten [two quickly] eldest son of enigmatic former two-weight world champion Chris. "But he's had everything his own way, which he won't against me."

Carruthers taps the side of his head, winking, before adding: "I know what i have to do on Saturday. I'm very confident."

Walsh tops re-jigged Wolverhampton bill

2012-06-02T15:09:00.002+01:00

Liam Walsh will now top the bill on the next Black Country fight night – and a clash of unbeaten cruiserweights has also been added to the show.

Walsh, 12-0 (9), will defend his Commonwealth super-featherweight championship in front of the BoxNation cameras at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday, June 22 after Enzo Maccarinelli pulled out of his rematch against Shane McPhilbin.

Walsh, one of three boxing brothers from Cromer, launched BoxNation by winning one of the best fights of 2011.

His title defence against former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby was a wildly exciting, back-and-forth battle of wills.

Walsh picked himself off the floor to force a 10-round retirement win and the super-slick power puncher heads to Wolverhampton to make the third defence of his title.

His challenger will be announced in the next few days.

Joint promoters PJ Rowson and Frank Warren are also delighted to announce that unbeaten cruiserweights Chris Keane and Stephen Simmons will meet over 10 rounds.

Keane, 6-0 (2), is from Walsall and will have home advantage against the granite tough Scot in what could be a classic.

Both were top-class amateurs. Keane won the ABA heavyweight championship in 2010, while Simmons won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and boxed regularly for Scotland.

As professionals, Keane extended his winning record to six fights with a 40-second blow-out in his last fight and Billy Nelson-trained Simmons has won all four [two inside].

Black Country favourite Jason Welborn, 9-1 (4), defends his Midlands Area welterweight title against Derby's Scott Haywood, 22-6-1 (4), on the same bill and Midlands Area light-middleweight champion Jamie Ball, 13-0-2 (4), is also in title action in another battle of unbeatens.

He has been paired with Michal Pechacek for the vacant International Masters championship.

Pechacek is the Czech super-middleweight title and has won all 10 of his professional fights.

Northampton super-flyweight Nathan Reeve, impressive in last year’s Prizefighter, is also set to be matched, along with unbeaten prospects Ryan Hookway, 4-0, Steven Pearce, 3-0 (1), and Dave Egan, 1-0.

Tipton light-heavyweight Ricky Summers, pipped by a point in the semi finals of the 2011 ABA championship, makes his professional debut, along with Andrew Robinson.

Box office 0870 320 7000; further information is available from PJ Rowson on 07976-283157.

Site closure

2012-04-21T16:28:00.000+01:00

Due to time constraints, there will be no more articles posted on this site.

As you can see, aside from the ratings at the start of the month, there have no pieces posted since March.

I'd just like to thank everyone who read this site for their support over the three years i've had this running - and for those who've read my work over the past nine years on a variety of different sites, newspapers,etc [where has the time gone,eh?].

All the best

Tom Podmore.

Midlands Ratings: Heavyweight-Middleweight [April 2012]

2012-04-01T14:39:00.000+01:00

Midlands ratings, heavyweight to middleweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months - or with no bout scheduled in the near future - is dropped from the list.]

Heavyweight

Paul Butlin [Melton Mowbray]
Andrew Ingram [Long Eaton]
John Loveday [Birmingham]
Tommy Ward [Leicester]
Gaz Johnson [Lincoln]
Mike O’Hagan [Coventry]
Michael Skierniewski [Stoke]
Scott Welton [Birmingham]
Drew Mitchell [Loughborough]

Cruiserweight

Shane McPhilbin [Nottingham]
Rob Norton [Stourbridge]
Chris Keane [Walsall]
Hastings Rasani [Birmingham]
Rhys Davies [Coventry]
Courtney Owen [Nottingham]
Simeon Cover [Worksop]

Light-Heavyweight

Ovill McKenzie [Derby] Commonwealth Champion
Callum Johnson [Lincoln]
Elvis Dube [Derby]
Arfan Iqbal [Derby]
Liam Daly [Northampton]
Adam Corbett [Tipton]
Jody Meikle [Scunthorpe]
Paddy Connors [Chesterfield]
Bobby Wood [Walsall]
Sean Sinnett [Coventry]
Adam Stretton [Swadlincote]

Super-Middleweight

Carl Froch [Nottingham]
Paul David [Northampton] English Champion
Steve Bendall [Coventry]
Jahamaine Smyle [Leicester]
Llewy Davies [Coventry]
Jonjo Finnegan [Burton] British Masters Champion
Dave Davis [Ilkeston]
Grant Cunningham [Stafford]
Gordon Watson [Belper]
Ricky Gammon [Nottingham]
Ryan Clark [Navenby]
Manny Moussinga [Birmingham]

Middleweight

Matthew Macklin [Birmingham]
Cello Renda [P’Boro/Birmingham]
Martin Concepcion [Leicester] Midlands Area Champion
Matt Hainy [Derby] International Masters Champion
Terry Carruthers [Birmingham] British Masters Champion
Tony Randell [Birmingham]
A.A. Lowe [Newark]
Ryan Aston [Dudley]
Kieron Gray [Telford]
Lewis Taylor [Dronfield]
Simone Lucas [Nottingham]
Craig Cunningham [Birmingham]
Steve Spence [Scunthorpe]
Mark Ketnor [Leicester]
Leon Mrvik [Long Eaton]
Gilson De Jesus [Nottingham]
Simon Henry [Leicester]

Midlands Ratings: Light-Middleweight-Flyweight [April 2012]

2012-04-01T14:38:00.004+01:00

Midlands ratings, light-middleweight to flyweight, compiled by Tom Podmore. [N.B. Any fighter inactive for 12 months - or with no bout scheduled in the near future - is dropped from the list.]

Light-Middleweight

Max Maxwell [Birmingham]

Marcus Portman [West Bromwich]

Peter Vaughan [Banbury]

Jamie Ball [Coseley] Midlands Area Champion

Nasser Al Harbi [Birmingham]

Thomas Costello [Birmingham]

Kevin McCauley [Stourbridge]

Dee Mitchell [Birmingham]

Duane Parker [Woodville]

Danny Fletcher [Nottingham]

Luke Gallear [Derby]

Terry Maughan [Nottingham]

Kyle Spencer [Brierley Hill]

Billy Smith [Worcester]

Rick Boulter [Lincoln]

Sullivan Mason [Nuneaton]

Andy Hardy [Nottingham]

Jimmy Price [Swadlincote]

Welterweight

Frankie Gavin [Birmingham]

Adnan Amar [Nottingham]

Young Mutley [West Bromwich]

Mark Lloyd [Telford]

Jason Welborn [Tividale] Midlands Area Champion

James Flinn [Coventry] British Masters Champion

Scott Haywood [Derby]

Jack Perry [Derby]

Joel Ryan [Walsall]

Sean McKervey [Coventry]

Ben Lawler [Skegness]

Nathan McIntosh [Nottingham]

Rob Hunt [Stafford]

Tommy Ghent [Coseley]

Steve Jevons [Swanwick]

Andrew Patterson [Birmingham]

Ryan Hookway [Leicester]

Scott Evans [Stourbridge]

Tom Bowen [Sedgley]

Shane Normoyle [Coventry]

Calum Cooper [Birmingham]

Carl Allen [Wolverhampton]

Steven Pearce [Stourbridge]

Danny Clews [Walsall]

Matt Seawright [Tamworth]

Martin Gordon [Brierley Hill]

Jason Nesbitt [Birmingham]

Lee Jevons [Swanwick]

Light-Welterweight

Dale Miles [Alfreton]

Dave Ryan [Derby] Midlands Area Champion

Chris Truman [Birmingham]

Jamie Spence [Northampton]

Leonard Lothian [Northampton]

John Connelly [Birmingham]

Sid Razak [Birmingham]

Kristian Laight [Nuneaton]

Rizwan Rasool [Dudley]

Lightweight

Martin Gethin [Walsall] International Masters Welterweight Champion

Amir Unsworth [Sleaford] Midlands Area Champion

Scott Jenkins [Chesterfield]

Tom Shaw [Burton]

Dean Anderson [Dudley]

Rob Sharpe [Mansfield]

Andy Keates [Leek]

Steve Gethin [Walsall]

Marvin Campbell [Stoke]

Super-Featherweight

Troy James [Coventry] Midlands Area Champion

Barrington Brown [Nottingham]

Paul Frost [Derby]

Matin Mohammed [Nottingham]

Featherweight

Chris Male [Dudley]

Lee Glover [Tipton] International Masters Champion

Leigh Wood [Nottingham]

Saquib Amir [Halesowen]

Pavels Senkovs [Mansfield]

Super-Bantamweight

Rendall Munroe [Leicester]

Jason Booth [Nottingham]

Dougie Walton [Coventry]

Ash Lane [Northampton]

Delroy Spencer [Walsall]

Super-Flyweight

Don Broadhurst [Birmingham]

Nathan Reeve [Northampton]

Flyweight

Chris Edwards [Stoke] British and Commonwealth Champion

Usman Ahmed [Derby]

Sheldon Purdy [Leicester]

Successful night for Midlands duo Perry and Owen

2012-03-26T09:07:00.002+01:00

Those who traveled from the East Midlands to watch Jack Perry and Courtney Owen box in Sheffield had to wait until 11-o-clock to see their men step into action.

But despite the lateness of their fights - taking place after the Sky Sports-televised main event - it was worth the wait as both secured four-round victories on the Ricky Hatton-promoted bill at Sheffield's Ponds Forge Leisure Centre on Saturday night [March 24].

Derby welterweight Perry [pictured] improved his unbeaten professional run to 17 [one draw, two early] with a 12-minute shut-out of winless Earl's Court-based South African Bheki Moyo [10st 10lbs], 37 and who's still searching for the elusive 'W' 42 outings into his career.

And it never looked as though it would arrive on Saturday as Ingle-trained Perry - enthusiastically supported at ringside by heavyweight gym mate Richard Towers, who'd registered an impressive five-round stoppage earlier in the night - dominated the action.

The 24-year-old ex-One Nation ABC unpaid performer finished unmarked and it was little wonder. His footwork too nimble to be troubled by Moyo's wild swings, Jack worked off the jab throughout, followed through with hooks, before driving in lefts to the body.

A neatly-threaded uppercut and right hook to the ribs in the fourth underlined the Midlander's dominance - matched by referee Michael Alexander's 40-36 scoreline.

"The first body shot landed and he smiled," said well-supported Perry [10st 8lbs], who must be in the running to box for Jason Welborn's Area 10st 7lbs title and who's ranked at eight in MidlandsBoxing's latest ratings. "But after the 20th shot landed in the same place, he looked like he wanted out."

Talking of fighters who wanted out, Karl Bell [14st 1lb] looked like, at times, he'd rather be anywhere but between the ropes during his show-closing four-rounder with Nottingham's Courtney Owen [13st 11lbs].

The Rotherham cruiserweight entered protecting a two-fight unbeaten ledger that saw both victories arrive at the expense of Nottinghamshire-based Simeon Cover. But unlike ex-Ingle disciple Cover, who launches his punches from unusual angles, Owen came plowing forward and the gamble paid off.

There were a few raised eyebrows at ringside when referee Howard Foster lifted Courtney's glove skywards, but i thought it was the right decision. The well-respected Yorkshireman tallied a 39-37 scoreline that was a tad wider than the 39-38 conclusion i came to.

Whatever the margins of victory were, Owen's work-rate and determination won out. After exchanging jabs in the opening round, the East Midlander attacked with two-fisted vigour - rattling the 30-year-old local in the second with a short left on the ropes.

A clash of heads left Courtney bleeding from the forehead and Karl sliced on the left eyebrow late in that same session and then Bell, now 2-1, edged a hard-to-score third for me. On my card there was all to play for in the last but it was Owen's thumping left that took the round and the fight.

The improving 25-year-old from Nottingham lost his first two professional outings [including a shocking one-round stoppage to light-hitting Reagan Denton 13 months ago] but with a bit of belief has since secured back-to-back wins over a brace of decent fighters.

Time-keepers error costs McPhilbin British belt

2012-03-25T23:20:00.002+01:00

Some things are just too controversial and costly to simply sweep under the carpet and forget about.

And the first-round farce which saw the bell ring to end the session between Nottingham's British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin and Enzo Maccarinelli with 47 seconds remaining is one of those.

In any circumstance it would be bad enough - after all, a round is either three minutes exactly or two minutes exactly, not a second more or a second less.

What's worse is that former WBO world cruiserweight boss Maccarinelli had been dropped heavily and had drunkenly stumbled around when trying to get himself in a vertical position.

With 47 seconds remaining on the clock and with Enzo's eyes swimming and senses scrambled, McPhilbin should have then tore into the challenger and registered a sensational one-round stoppage [or knockout] victory and won those who'd piled money on him at 150/1 massive sums.

Or not.

Because as soon as referee Ian John-Lewis had deemed the Italian-rooted Welshman fit to continue fighting, the bell rang to end the round. The fighters are too involved in the moment to know when the bell should ring or not; they just carry on fighting until they're separated.

But that decision was disgraceful - and, with all due respect to time-keeper Martin Fallon, he should, because of the costly nature of the error, have his licence revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control and never be allowed to participate at ringside again.

Mr Fallon's incompetence in that situation is unforgivable, and no amount of apologising will change what happened. An immediate rematch for McPhilbin won't hand him back his British title, which he won in Rocky-like fashion with a come-from-behind 12-round stoppage over Leon Williams in January.

If you ask me - and this isn't to take away from Enzo's nervy performance after the opening session - a No Contest should be declared; it's the only fair outcome on an error that undoubtedly changed the outcome.story told about this fight.

As for what happened between the ropes during the 12-rounder, most of the action on the Paul Rowson and Frank Warren-promoted bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall was packed into the first nine minutes, with the ex-European champion [13st 7lbs 10oz] sensationally hitting the deck twice in that period.

A sweeping left hook sent the notoriously-fragile Maccarinelli, 31, crashing down inside two minutes. His eyes swimming and legs like mounds of stacked jelly, the Swansea-based puncher was ready to go - and never has a bell saved a fighter at the right time, albeit at the wrong time for anyone that wasn't associated with Enzo.

Shane [14st 3lbs] followed up in the second with more booming punches that had a man who'd dominated world-class Wayne Braithwaite in his pomp looking decidedly unsteady. And a left and a grazing right from the well-supported Bullwell banger stuck Enzo down for a second time in the latter stages of the third, though it wasn't as damaging as the first.

The feeling at ringside was that it was only a matter of time before Carl Greaves-handled McPhilbin nailed him with a big punch again, closed matters and headed back to Nottingham with the British title in his case. But that wasn't to be the case, and i didn't have him winning another round after that, surprisingly.

A round-by-round breakdown would be unnecessary, as it followed in the same messy and frustrating pattern of attempted punching and falling into hold . Enzo, in essence, mauled his way through the remainder and caught McPhilbin, 26, with punches as he came in - parrying the vicious-looking overhand swings that came his way.

The sessions were marred by lots of claiming, but Maccarinelli did score a knockdown in the ninth which, in truth, looked more of a push. Normal business was resumed in the eleventh, however, and though i thought the champion put in a solid effort in the final three minutes, i still scored it level for a 115-111 tally.

My way of scoring was agreed with by Victor Loughlin, with Birmingham's Terry O'Connor marking it 116-111 and Wellingborough's John Keane seeing it 115-110. The scores may have varied but they were unanimous and there was no doubting the winner, whose showing have convinced many that he should hang his gloves up before he suffers another heavy knockout defeat.

Maccarinelli improves to 35-5 (27); McPhilbin, still the Midlands Area champion and surely in line for a rematch or a crack at the vacant title if Enzo, as expected, vacates, drops to 8-3 (5).

Welborn retains Midlands belt with power show

2012-03-25T22:19:00.000+01:00

Jason Welborn had predicted in the run-up to his Midlands Area welterweight title defence that he'd be too strong for his challenger.

And so it proved as the bull-strong champion dropped and stopped Coventry's James Flinn in five rounds in the chief support to Shane McPhilbin's British cruiserweight title defence against former world champion Enzo Maccarinelli in Wolverhampton on Friday night [March 23].

The BoxNation cameras were in town to capture an intriguing-looking all-West Midlands clash over ten rounds - and to see improving Welborn [10st 6lbs 8oz] post his best performance to date.

Pre-fight, local opinion was divided on whether Flinn's solid, neat skills - which saw him represent Wales in the unpaid code and reach a national semi - or Welborn's much-vaunted strength and power would win the day.

And after three absorbing rounds of hard-to-score action, on a PJ Promotions and Frank Warren-promoted card at a sold-out and lively Civic Hall in the Black Country, nothing was any clearer; i had them winning a round apiece and had the opening three minutes even.

But from the fourth onwards you had a sneaking suspicion that the determination and strength of the Tividale fighter, who took the Midlands belt from another Coventry scrapper - southpaw Sean McKervey - in three rounds last November, would slowly break Flinn [10st 6lbs 10oz] down.

I couldn't split the pair during the first round. Though former two-time British Masters boss Flinn picked several holes in Errol Johnson-trained Jason's defence with a probing left, the champion roared back inside the last 60 seconds with two overhand ropes when the challenger had his back to the ropes.

James' well-timed one-twos on the back foot secured him the second round on my card, and that was in spite of an on-the-neck punch that sent him down on the bell [no count]. But after starting brightly and sending sweat flying from Welborn's head early in the third, the Andre Yerou-trained stylist found himself increasingly under fire.

The 25-year-old Black Country banger thumped home the heavier and more hurtful-looking punches, switched the attack to the body, before bringing it back to the head with a left hook.

Even so, Flinn, 30, still deflected plenty of blows on his gloves and gave as good as he got in a give-and-take fourth that i gave to the champion on the strength of a right on the bell that snapped the head of Coventry City supporter, now 10-2-1 (2), skywards.

But the fight was slowly being ebbed out of the challenger - and an intense attack, to both body and head, had Flinn down within the opening minute of the fifth. Though up at seven and firing back on the resumption, a left to the body dropped him again and, in spite of beating the count, referee Terry O'Connor waived it off at 2-13.

With the impressive victory, Welborn improves to 9-1 (4) - and suffered his only professional defeat to Ingle-trained Nottingham stylist Tyan Booth four years ago. That was at super-middleweight and Jason is targeting a tilt at the English 10st 7lbs belt, currently held by former British boss Lee Purdy, by the summer.

Keane dominates as Gethin and Anderson have early nights

2012-03-25T21:11:00.001+01:00

Chris Keane displayed the type of quick-fisted skills that many believe will take him to a British title.

The Walsall cruiserweight returned to action for the first time in 15 months on a Paul Rowson and Frank Warren-promoted bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday night [March 23] and shredded the first layer of rust against Lithuanian iron man Remigijus Ziausys.

Ziausys has only been halted once [in his sixth outing] in a 72-contest career that has largely been compiled at heavyweight and includes extending Dereck Chisora six rounds last year.

The iron-jawed Eastern European conceded a 60-54 decision that night and the same scoreline was tallied by Rob Chalmers after his battle with Keane [13st 13 1/2lbs], who won the ABAs and Four Nations in just 16 amateur bouts.

As to be expected after 15 months on the sidelines, Keane didn't always shine. But at times he boxed beautifully off his rapid jab - following up with fast-handed one-twos to head and body. Ziausys' face was reddened inside the opening round and it didn't get much better for him in the sessions that followed.

He hit back often but was out-boxed by the Paul Hudson-trained, Frank Warren-promoted cruiser, who made the swollen-faced 27-year-old's legs do a little dance with a stinging uppercut in the fourth. More bursts of two-fisted blows thumped home in the final six minutes and though well beaten, Remigijus [13st 7lbs] was still in his West Midlands foe's face at the final bell.

Keane, now unbeaten in five [one early], can kick on from this and is hoping for regular action after just a handful of bouts in three years. He's also looking to be the next boxer from the Black Country, after Stourbridge's Rob Norton, to wear the British cruiserweight title. I wouldn't bet against it.

Another British title-chasing fighter from Walsall, hard-hitting two-time English lightweight boss Martin Gethin, registered an early night against heavier Hungarian Csaba Torma [10st 9lbs], now 6-7 (5).

Gethin, 28 and who returned from a long absence in November, looked disinterested in his last fight, an International Masters welterweight title-winning ten-rounder against Ivan Godor in Peterborough two weeks ago, but was a different animal in Wolverhampton.

The former British Masters and Midlands Area champion picked well-timed overhand rights in the first and then plowed forward with both hands to force Mr Chalmers to halt the slaughter at 1-59 of the second. Torma - bloody-nosed, outclassed and offering nothing back - didn't protest the stoppage.

Now with a 21-3-1 (8) professional tab, Errol Johnson-trained Gethin [10st 4 1/4bs] is back in the hunt for a shot at Anthony Crolla's Lonsdale Belt at 9st 9lbs. One or two more impressive-looking wins in the coming months and the Black Countryman will be banging very loudly on the Mancunian's door.

It was set for six.

Talking of impressive stoppages, Dudley's Dean Anderson [9st 7 1/2lbs] boxed for the first time since Sid Razak snapped his unbeaten run in December 2010 and aimed a brutal attack at Robin Deakin's body until Gareth Morris halted the contest in the second.

A former NABC amateur champion for Priory Park ABC, Anderson is a good boxer with a decent dig in his gloves. But he has a reputation of losing his cool - and it was this hot-headedness that cost him his fight with sturdy Razak, who turned the tables to stop his opponent in just two minutes and 42 seconds.

But Dean battered durable Deakin [9st 10lbs] in the five minutes the bout lasted.

His ribs red and sore inside the opening 90 seconds, 47-bout Robin spent nearly all of his time on the ropes trying to fend off the Black Country puncher's attack. He saw out the first stanza but after two minutes of the second - and after a further two-fisted rib-crunching assault from Anderson - Mr Morris had seen enough.

Errol Johnson-handled Anderson improves to 3-1 (2) and is a welcome re-addition to the Midlands lightweight scene.

Costello shines in seconds; Cunningham impress over distance

2012-03-25T20:19:00.000+01:00

Thomas Costello needed just 130 seconds to post the stand-out performance in Wolverhampton.

The Birmingham light-middleweight, fighting on the BoxNation-televised undercard of Paul Rowson and Frank Warren's joint bill at the Civic Hall on Friday night [March 23], blew away over-matched Slovakian Lubomir Wejs in under a round and looks ready for harder assignments.

Though the opponent looked woefully inept, it was hard not to be impressed with the former top-rated amateur stylist - a former Junior ABA and Four Nations boss who seems to have been around forever but is still only 23.

Costello turned over with Richie Woodhall five years ago but back-to-back stoppages in the previous nine months, after an absence of over a year prior to last June, suggests that his power is improving as his body fills out.

The Brummie fights tall and even when a left to the body slammed home and swept the 35-contest Eastern European off his feet early on, Thomas [11st 4lbs 4oz] refused to rush his work. Instead, he picked his shots, waited for the opening to present itself again and, when it did, repeated the trick to force referee Rob Chalmers' intervention with 50 seconds remaining.

Though the 33-year-old didn't touch down on that occasion, he was doubled over in agony and the stoppage was undoubtedly the right one.

Trained in Chelmsley Wood by dad John, Costello has only one blemish on an eleven-fight ledger - a six-round draw with erratic Lee Noble. Friday night's one-sided dismissal was his fourth stoppage as a pro and, if he can make 11st, a Birmingham-Black Country Midlands Area title showdown with Jamie Ball would be welcomed.

For the record, that was only the second time that Wejs [11st 7lbs] had been taken out in the opening round.

Another West Midlander to impress both a television audience and those who'd paid to be at the packed-out Civic was Stafford super-middleweight Grant Cunningham [12st 4lbs 6oz], who dominated his four-rounder with always-game Lincolnshire brawler Ryan Clark.

Clark's toughness [only halted twice in 59] and activity [27 outings in 2011 alone] has won him a host of admirers and even secured him an International Masters title shot with Burton's Jonjo Finnegan, seated behind me at ringside, at Derby Country FC's ground later next month.

But though Ryan [12st 4lbs 8oz] offered trademark courage, 28-year-old Cunningham was simply too talented. The solid lead of the Errol Johnson-handled Staffordshire stylist had left Clark red-faced inside the opening 60 seconds - and continued to prize his guard open to leave him bloody-nosed at the bell.

After avoiding the looping overhand rights of Carl Greaves-trained Clark, Grant continued to spear through the jab in the rounds that followed, even rattling his Navenby-based opponent with a left to the body and double right hand upstairs in the third and a neatly-threaded left uppercut in the last.

Cunningham, now 3-0 (1), romped home a 40-36 winner for Mr Chalmers and is definitely one to watch out for.

Three out of three for Cooper-trained trio

2012-03-25T19:28:00.001+01:00

Shaun Cooper woke up on Saturday morning a happy man.

The former undefeated pro from Dudley is now a successful trainer and had three fighters on the Paul Rowson-promoted, BoxNation-televised bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday night [March 23] - and all three ran out winners.

Most impressive was unbeaten Brierley Hill light-middleweight Kyle Spencer [11st 2lbs 6oz], who expertly solved the tricky southpaw puzzle set him by capable Rick Boulter.

Boulter's record may only show one win in 23 [three draws] but he's a willing type of scrapper who held come-backing Jeff Thomas, later to secure a place on Prizefighter, to a six-round draw 12 months ago.

Against neat-boxing Spencer, though, the Carl Greaves-handled survivor could do little but offer occasional left-handed swipes as his Black Country opponent piled up the points to earn a deserved 40-36 nod from Terry O'Connor, scoring on the outside for trialist official Gareth Morris.

The ex-Lions ABC stylist, 22, has yet to have dropped a session in his first two paid outings and looks a good prospect. He worked well off the jab, pushed the Lincolnshire man back onto the ropes and tattooed him with an assortment of solid blows in the show-opening four-threes.

Kyle looked calm and controlled throughout and his dominance was underlined by a straight left and follow-up right in the final three minutes that stiffened the legs of Boulter [11st 3lbs 6oz], who finished marked-up under both eyes.

Another to move to two fights without a blemish was well-supported Stourbridge welterweight Steven Pearce, who also had the added bonus of celebrating his first early night as a professional fighter.

After a slow opening three minutes against normally-sturdy and heavily-tattooed Matt Seawright [10st 12lbs 2oz], 27-year-old Pearce smashed the Tamworth trier to the canvas in the second and finished the job 49 seconds into the third of a scheduled four-threes.

Up until the first knockdown, however, Matt was doing well. He took the opening session on my card after getting home with several left hooks. But Steven [10st 11lbs] justified his hard-hitting reputation when he decked his opponent with a well-timed right uppercut in the second.

Though up at six, Scotland-born Seawright was forced to fend off a wild two-fisted barrage thereafter.

It didn't get any better for him. Cut by the right eye, he shipped a heavy right uppercut early on and after another burst of blows rained in, referee Morris stepped in and stopped it, though not before slipping on the canvas and falling face-first into Pearce's corner.

Laughter rang around the packed Civic Hall from everyone but Seawright, who was adamant he was stopped too early. He may have had a point.

And in a show-closing four-threes played out in front of a pocket of die-hards, featherweight Saquib Amir [aka Zak The Ripper] fended off the spirited charge of 151-bout Delroy Spencer, making his first-ever paid appearance in the city he lives, to register a 39-37 victory.

The crowd-pleasing Halesowen 29-year-old [8st 13lbs] now has three wins from four contests and is already on his third trainer, after spells with Roy Skeldon [first two bouts] and Errol Johnson [his last one].

The latest link-up, with a trainer who recorded 16 professional victories in 16 before hanging up the gloves, looks to have done him the power of good. The self-styled 'Ripper' looks a more measured operator than on previous viewings - wasting fewer punches and moving his upper body well.

Walsall-born Spencer [8st 10lbs 4oz] may be 44 in just over three months but nipped in and out and found the mark on occasions with the odd slapping hook. He disputed the decision at the bell [though, in truth, i had it the same, 3-1 in rounds] but was generally outworked by an aggressive little fighter whose work was cleaner.

Terry O'Connor scored at ringside for Mr Morris.

Brummie veteran Razak to fight for Midlands belt

2012-03-22T08:34:00.001+00:00

Not many fighters are handed a crack at a title after 91 fights, 11 years of action and pushing 40.

But durable Brummie Sid Razak's reward for securing three victories in the past 12 months is an opportunity to spoil the maiden defence of Amir Unsworth's Midlands Area lightweight title.

Razak has long been regarded as the toughest journeymen on the circuit but gets the opportunity, like Billy Smith did after a decent run five years ago, to add champion to that tag against a former English 9st 9lbs title challenger who'll fight in front of his home town supporters on May 19.

Carl Greaves promotes at Sleaford's Northgate Sports Hall and it'll be Lincolnshire-based Unsworth's first defence of a belt he won with a three-round smashing of Wolverhampton's always-exciting Steve Saville in late 2010.

Since then, though, he's scored just a solitary victory in three, including back-to-back reversals to Derry Mathews and William Warburton in the second-half of 2011. Blasted out in eight seconds short of three minutes by Mathews, Amir, 13-5-1 (2), will look to throw himself back into the English title mix with a win over the Second City veteran.

But this isn't likely to be a straight-forward defence.

The Peter Buckley-handled 39-year-old former British Masters featherweight title challenger has heard the final bell on 85 occasions and his 447 rounds-worth of experience, compiled in nine fights short of a century, will stand him in excellent stead for the 30-minute East vs West Midlands title showdown.

Four of his eight paid wins [three stoppages] have arrived against then-unbeaten prospects expecting another 'W' - and one of his best, a two-round spanking of much-vaunted Irishman Damian Taggart, 5-1, was against a big-punching boxer lined up to challenge for his country's national title.

Shaven-headed Razak will look to unleash similar form in eight weeks.

I'm more than a puncher, says fired-up Welborn

2012-03-21T08:49:00.009+00:00

Jason Welborn has hit back at suggestions he's little more than a one-dimensional brawler.

The Midlands Area welterweight champion puts his belt on the line for the first time on Friday [March 23], on a BoxNation-televised, Paul Rowson-promoted bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, claiming there's more to his game than power.

Welborn captured his treasured title with a three-round thumping of erratic southpaw Sean McKervey at Walsall Town Hall in November, but can expect a different challenge from another Coventry-based scrapper, James Flinn, 10-1-1 (2), in two days time.

The neat-boxing two-time British Masters boss anticipates being too well-rounded for his flat-footed opponent - and after an amateur career that includes international experience for Wales and pro scalps of capable duo William Warburton and Ben Lawler, who entered on the back of a stoppage victory over unbeaten Rob Hunt, it's hardly a surprise.

Welborn can't boast anywhere near that type of experience. With only ten fights to his name [one win as an amateur and eight wins out of nine in the pros], he's still very much a novice, albeit one who's improved under the tutelage of Black Country fight figure Errol Johnson.

And it's that steady improvement, blended with his fitness, vaunted strength and solid power [three stoppages], that the popular Black Country puncher believes will be the recipe for a successful maiden defence. "We've been working on a few things in the gym," said the 25-year-old, who has never done more than six rounds before.

"Flinn thinks all i'll be able to do is move forwards all night, but I've been sparring with good boxers instead of brawlers," he continued. "He's a nice boxer who has a long amateur career behind him but i'm ready.

"I want to test myself and this is the fight to do it. Plenty are predicting i'll get picked off and out-boxed but i'm going to show that there is a lot more to me than just a strong lad who likes a scrap.

"I'm not going to give my title up without one hell of a fight - and i don't know if he has that same fight and drive in him," Welborn pondered ahead of his second scheduled ten-rounder.

"I've only lost to [Nottingham's Ingle-trained switcher Tyan] Booth, who was all over the place and heavier. That was a long time ago, though, and i can't see many people around at this weight who would beat me."

For the record, the doors now open at 6pm, with the first bell at 6:30pm. It had previously been advertised as an 8pm start.

Coldwell returns to Brum with Al Harbi-Mutley

2012-03-20T12:35:00.009+00:00

Nasser Al Harbi has been handed his second Birmingham vs Black Country clash in as many outings.

That's because the stylish-boxing Brummie will meet former British welterweight champion and recent Prizefighter semi-finalist Young Mutley in an attractive-looking main event on Dave Coldwell's next promotion in Birmingham, inked in for May 11 at New Bingley Hall.

Fast-moving Al Harbi [pictured] is only four days removed from controversially having the first blemish etched onto his 14-fight [13 wins and a draw, one early] professional ledger.

A cut next to Nasser's right eye led to his English 11st title eliminator with Jamie Ball, himself undefeated in 14 entering, last week being halted half-way through the fourth and marked a Technical Draw. Though neither man suffered defeat with that outcome, there was controversy aplenty.

And a rematch looked the most obvious choice, especially as Ball and his camp insisted the cut had been caused by a left and that he alone should have had his hand raised. That notion was disputed by Nasser's corner, though, who were equally adamant it was the Coseley southpaw's head that caused the damage, something agreed with by referee Terry O'Connor.

But the 22-year-old returns to welterweight, where he won his WBC Asian Council Continental strap in 2010, to tackle an always-dangerous banger from West Bromwich, 30-7 (14), who was good enough to end the 28-fight unbeaten run of Michael Jennings to secure the Lonsdale Belt in 2005 and edge past solid Swede Patrick Bogere.

Still, does 35-year-old veteran Mutley, a former Midlands Area and English boss who took red-hot Second City southpaw Frankie Gavin the full 12 last year, have the legs to trap fleet-footed, quick-fisted Al Harbi? Likewise, does Al Harbi have the know-how and engine to keep bull-strong Mutley off him for ten?

On May 11, on a bill aptly-titled 'Who's Fooling Who?', we'll find out.

Make or break night for Flinn's fighting future

2012-03-20T09:25:00.001+00:00

James Flinn has conceded that defeat this week will spell the end.

But the Coventry welterweight, who challenges Jason Welborn for the Midlands Area title in the chief support to Shane McPhilbin's British cruiserweight title defence against Enzo Maccarinelli at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday [March 23], insists it won't come to that.

BoxNation televise the Paul Rowson-promoted bill from the Black Country and Flinn is looking to silence the doubters who believe Welborn, whose 8-1 pro ledger shows three stoppages, will be too powerful.

The flat-footed Rowley Regis-based champion won the Midland strap by bull-dozing another Coventry fighter, southpaw Sean McKervey, late last year and has been looking at securing an English title fight in the summer.

But Welborn's dismissive nature and future title plans have annoyed the challenger. The 30-year-old two-time British Masters 10st 7lbs boss has endured a less-than-ideal training camp but admits that if he can't win at area level then he'll seriously consider his future involvement in a sport he's served for 18 years.

A hungry boxer is a dangerous one and Flinn has warned his opponent that looking past this ten-rounder will be a massive mistake. Inactive since he lost in an English title challenge to Adil Anwar in November, James had built an eleven-fight unbeaten record [one draw] and a reputation as neat boxer who can punch a bit.

That's hardly surprising after an unpaid career that saw him represent Wales - and it's that background that he believes will be key to victory. "He's been saying that he'll be too strong and hit too hard, but it's nothing I've not seen before," admitted the Andre Yerou-trained Coventry stylist.

"It's all well and good being strong and fit but he's going to need be, as he'll be hitting a lot of air as he comes looking for me," he continued. "For every punch he throws at me, i'll be catching him with three or four, and i hit harder than my record would suggest.

"But i wonder how much of a threat he thinks i am," pondered Flinn, 10-1-1 (2). "He's been saying that he wants an English title fight after this and that he'll walk through me, but i haven't even thought about any future fights.

"I'm a good boxer, can adapt and i've got aspirations - so if i can't beat Welborn then i'll jack it in. I know how good i am and that i really should be beating lads at this level with a bit left in the tank.

"But retirement won't be on the agenda because i'll smash him and take his Midlands title," added the ardent Coventry City supporter.

Froch - Bute is either confident or very stupid

2012-03-19T16:13:00.002+00:00

Carl Froch has labelled Lucian Bute either confident or stupid after coming face-to-face with him for the first time.

The former two-time WBC world super-middleweight champion made the admission at a press conference at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena, which will stage his hotly-anticipated world title challenge on May 26, today [March 19].

Bute, a 30-fight [24 stoppages] unbeaten Montreal-based Romanian who's considered the number two at the weight after Andre Ward, has long been criticised by the fearless East Midlander for his reluctance to square-off with the elite at 12st and step outside of his adopted Canadian home, where he's fought and won on 25 occasions.

But Froch, who traveled the traditional English, British and Commonwealth route prior to winning the WBC belt in 2008, has admitted he respects the stylish southpaw, 32, for stepping outside of his comfort zone to make the tenth defence of the IBF strap he won with an eleven-round stoppage of Andre Berrio five years ago.

"I've got to give him a lot of credit," conceded the 34-year-old father of one, 28-2 (20). "I've given him some stick in the past for not fighting the best around, like I've done since i won my first world title here [at the 9,000-capacity arena in Nottingham city centre], and not leaving Canada to have a real test.

"But he's coming to my hometown to defend his world title and that either means he's very confident or very, very stupid. In truth, he will be confident as he's a champion. And he'll probably think he's seen a few weaknesses and that he can exploit them. Again, he's very much mistaken.

"I'm ready for this and am pumped at the chance to win a third world title. I'll have the backing of almost 10,000 Nottingham, Midlands and British boxing fans on the night, at a venue I've gone 12-0 at.

"No trash will be talked beforehand but it's going to be a very bad night for him - especially when i take his title," he roared.

Image courtesy of Matchroom Boxing.

Macklin falls short in WBC title challenge

2012-03-19T08:32:00.005+00:00

Leading up to their WBC Diamond middleweight title clash, Matthew Macklin was convinced he had the ability to beat Sergio Martinez.

And entering the ninth of their battle at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday night [March 17], the Birmingham puncher's pre-fight confidence looked justified as he led on all three of the judges scorecards [two scores of 76-75 and a 78-73].

But like he'd done against Barnet's Darren Barker in his last contest, in Atlantic City in October, Martinez stormed back down the finishing straight and decked Macklin twice in the penultimate session before Buddy McGirt retired his man between rounds.

It was a typically brave and all-action showing from the Irish-rooted 29-year-old, who lost the opening two rounds for me. Quick and accurate, the pound-for-pound number three-rated Martinez's footwork maneuvered himself into position to catch Macklin off-balance in the second.

Yet the Brummie would take four of the next five on my scorecard [a view shared by all three scoring judges]. He stepped into range and fired off bursts of combinations at the California-based South American, who found himself under increasing pressure. By the fifth Macklin was getting the better of the exchanges and, satisfied with his work, raised his hands at the bell.

The sixth was better for the 37-year-old two-weight world champion, though, and his jab [doubled and sometimes tripled] slammed home with ease. The quick-fisted southpaw took that session on my card [i had it 57 apiece at this stage] but there was no doubting the victor of the seventh.

After some even trading early on, former British and two-time European boss Matthew slammed home a right that caught Martinez with his feet splayed, sending the gloves of the world's best middleweight towards the canvas. Though it wasn't a knockdown in the traditional sense of the word, referee Bill Cotton counted and the challenger handed a 10-8 session.

But that was to be the last hurrah for the Brian Peters-managed fighter, who controversially lost a 12-round split decision to WBA world champion Felix Sturm in Germany last summer, and he didn't win a stanza on two of the three judges' scorecards thereafter.

The speed that had been so effective for the Buenos Aires-born stylist in the first six minutes again shone through. He timed his jab to perfection to halt the charge of the willing West Midlander and his pressure meant Macklin, who looked gassed, spent increasing periods of time on the back foot.

Then Macklin couldn't take the heat and pace in the eleventh and unraveled, twice dropped by the lightening-fast left backhand of the portsider in the final 30 seconds. Though he beat the second count, handed to him on the bell, trainer McGirt wisely pulled his brave fighter out before any serious damage could be inflicted in the last.

At the time of the corner retirement, Julie Lederman had it all-square 103-103, with Don Trella and Carlos Ortiz Jr both having the speedy southpaw, whose record improves to 49-2-2 (28) and who registered his fifth win against a British boxer [Adrian Stone, Richard Williams [twice] and Barker], ahead 105-101.

Afterwards, a disappointed Macklin, now 28-4 (19), admitted a lack of concentration meant he payed the ultimate price. "I switched off a little bit upstairs - stopped moving my head," conceded the ardent Birmingham City supporter from Solihull.

"I tired a little bit in the final few rounds, but it wasn't extreme fatigue," marked-up Macklin continued. "I slowed a bit, stopped moving my head and got a bit heavy on my feet, which meant he caught me square-on.

"I gave it 100 per cent and think everyone would agree. I just hope i haven't let anyone down."

Inconclusive end to battle of unbeaten Midlanders

2012-03-17T21:19:00.005+00:00

In the last significant clash pitting Birmingham against the Black Country, a cut prematurely ended what was set to be a fascinating encounter.

That was when Wayne Elcock controversially retained his British middleweight title with a two-round injury stoppage over Dudley's Darren McDermott at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2008. McDermott insisted he could have continued.

And four years on, in the main event on Dave Coldwell's excellent-value bill at Birmingham's New Bingley Hall last night, a similar incident happened again.

This time, though, it was a meeting between Coseley southpaw Jamie Ball and Second City stylist Nasser Al Harbi [pictured at the weigh-in on Thursday, with promoter Coldwell in the centre] with the right to challenge Erik Ochieng for the English 11st title as the prize awaiting the victor.

Yet neither man left with a defeat etched onto their ledger as a cut on the side of Al Harbi's right eye brought an end to the bout at 1-36 of the fourth. Under the British Boxing Board of Control's recently-revised rules, the contest would have been have won by Ball had the referee deemed the injury was inflicted by a punch.

But referee Terry O'Connor decided the wound had arrived by the head of Ball and not his fist, meaning that, as four rounds had not been completed, a Technical Draw was announced. Al Harbi insisted he could have carried on and his opponent adamant that a left had opened up the wound.

In truth, my view was obscured by a board official and i can't comment on the exact truth of the matter. But Ball, by all accounts, had a nasty-looking swelling on his head afterwards and the answer to the question of whether or not it was a glove or a skull that did the damage may lie there.

But what i will say, however, is that i thought that the corner, led by Al Harbi's dad Naji, should have been allowed the chance to work on that cut at the end of the fourth. From where i was sitting - as close to the ring as can be without actually being in it - it looked as if the blood was trickling away from his eye.

Anyway, the inconclusive nature of the ending means that neither man is any further along the road than they were prior to a hotly-anticipated ten-rounder between a brace of young, unbeaten and hungry fighters who were eager to make a charge onto the domestic light-middleweight scene.

It had been shaping up nicely at the time, too. Ball, the Midlands Area 11st champion, edged the opening round for me with lefts to the body and then Al Harbi, 22 and a former WBC Asia Council Continental champion, used his silky skills and feet to glide in and out of range to score with sharp hooks in the following session.

Neatly-threaded right uppercuts from Nasser, now 13-0-1 (1) and who shocked many by trading with a taller fighter who was perceived, pre-fight, as being the stronger, handed him the third on my card and matters seemed to be about even when the laceration next to the Brummie's eye opened up just over half-way through the fourth.

Shaun Cooper-trained Ball's record now reads 13-0-2 (4) - the other draw being with Kieron Gray for the vacant Area title in 2010 - and the 27-year-old's promoter, Black Country-based Paul Rowson, was also of the opinion that a punch from Jamie's black gloves did the damage.

But there's only one way to settle this debate - a rematch. After an ending like that, it would be welcomed by everyone who made their way to the Hockley venue.

For the record, Ball weighed 10st 13 1/2lbs; Al Harbi 10st 11lbs 2oz.

Carruthers Masters McCauley for title

2012-03-17T20:34:00.004+00:00

Terry Carruthers has hinted on several occasions that he has what it takes to secure himself a professional strap.

And last night, in one of the headlining attractions on Coldwell Boxing's seven-fight card at the Second City's New Bingley Hall, the capable Brummie did just that - outscoring Kevin McCauley 97-94 for the vacant British Masters middleweight title.

Referee Terry O'Connor's tally [equating to 6-3-1 in rounds] looked a trifle generous to McCauley in my eyes, and i had Carruthers [pictured with his belt] a far more convincing 100-92 winner [giving the Stourbridge-based co-challenger a share of rounds seven and eight].

My way of scoring was shared [give or take] by those seated with me at ringside, but though the margin i tolled would suggest a one-sided encounter, the Birmingham vs Black Country ten-rounder was anything but.

McCauley may have a record that's light on wins but is a tough, honest pro who won a Midlands Area belt at welterweight and a British Masters title at 11st. But against an improving Jon Pegg-trained 26-year-old with solid fundamentals, he could do little but offer occasional counter assaults when his opponent bulled forwards.

Heavily-tattooed Terry, from the Lee Bank area of Birmingham, lost his debut scrap in his home city seven years ago but, subsequently, has gone unbeaten there in five [one draw] and has evolved from a care-free swinger to a measured boxer who works his way in behind a solid lead.

Ex-bantamweight pro Pegg has been integral in that career turnaround from journeyman to dangerman and was pleased with his charge's professional showing against a durable 46-fight veteran [ten wins and three draws] who's handled by Black Country fight figure Errol Johnson.

And Pegg would have been delighted by the start Carruthers [11st 3lbs 14oz] made. After a quiet opening session, the Brummie sprung into life in the second - working the body and thumping rights into the 32-year-old's dome. He made McCauley's legs briefly buckle in the fourth with a short left hook and the same punch did damage three minutes later.

But Kevin [11st 2 1/4lbs] bit on his gum-shield and got his jab working in the seventh, one of the two rounds i thought he shared, cutting his opponent into the bargain with a right. But after making a bright start at the beginning of the eighth, he was stunned by a right to the body and follow-up left to the head in the last 30 seconds.

Holding marred the last two rounds of an always-absorbing 30-minute bout, with tiredness setting into the arms and legs of the willing combatants. But it was Carruthers who had his hand lifted upwards at the bell and the joy etched on his reddened face said more than a thousand words could.

For the new champion, who pushed current British light-middleweight monarch Brian Rose to the wire over six and improves to 10-11-6 (1), it's the first of what he hopes will be many titles. Brave and more composed in recent outings, he's looking to turn his career in the same direction as his soon-to-be Lonsdale Belt-challenging stablemate Max Maxwell.