SCORE DRAW
All-liverpool Central Area welter title thriller ends in tie
AN all-scouse Central Area welterweight title battle between champion Adam Ismail and Andy Colquhoun [inset – Ismail on right] topped VIP Promotions’ show at the Robin Park Centre.
Rangy southpaw Ismail started well, but the contest came to life in the third when he was rocked by Colquhoun. Solid flurries from both followed, with the challenger eventually emerging with a cut, caused by a clash of heads, next to his left eye.
While the fourth was close, Ismail took the fifth, before midnight ushered in the round of the fight. Colquhoun caught Ismail with solid shots in the sixth, but the champ refused to wilt. Colquhoun took the seventh, before Ismail appeared to edge ahead as he returned to boxing in rounds eight and nine.
Despite a rousing finish from Colquhoun, both fighters thought they had won it, but referee Mark Lyson scored it 96-96.
Bentley’s Craig Derbyshire and St Helens’ Ian Halsall shared referee Steve Gray’s 38-38 tally.
Skelmersdale debutant Colin Day showed good variety against Nuneaton’s Kristian Laight. Ref Lyson had it 40-36 to Day.
Atherton’s Ashley Peyton
enjoyed a similarly straightforward 60-54 victory over Newark’s Fonz Alexander on Mr Gray’s card.
Liverpool’s Anthony Smith
returned to action after three years out with a 40-37 success against veteran Estonian Sergey Tasimov. Mr Lyson officiated.
Manchester’s Dale Coyne was impressive in his 40-36 triumph over Doncaster’s Jason Ball. The visitor, not stopped since 2014, was rocked several times. Mr Gray refereed.
Working well to get close to his taller opponent, and in his first contest for over a year, Southport’s former British cruiserweight title challenger Mike Stafford earned a solid 40-37 win over Lithuania’s Dmitrij Kalinovskij. Mr Lyson was the referee.
Kirkby’s Craig Johnson worked hard to outpoint Hereford’s at-times-erratic Dean Evans
40-36 on Mr Lyson’s scorecard.
Backed by loud support, Failsworth’s Danny Wright was a comfortable 40-36 winner over Sheffield’s Nathan Hardy.
Mr Lyson was the official.
Although difficult to score, the tidier work in the six-rounder between Skelmersdale’s Steve Brogan and Cardiff’s Henry Janes came from the former. Referee Lyson scored it a draw at 57-57.
Although no less frenetic, a much tidier affair saw Ellesmere Port’s Matty Fagan cleverly outpoint Middlesbrough’s Ross Jameson 59-55 on referee Gray’s card.
THE VERDICT Ismail and Colquhoun serve up an all-liverpudlian cracker.