BACK AT THE BEACH

Pro boxing finally returns to Southend after a long absence

ALMOST two decades had passed since professional boxing last took place in the seaside town of Southend, so its return in the form of a three-bout offering at the Skylark Hotel was most welcome.

There was an early finish in the six-round bill-topper. Basildon’s Davis Pagan – who avenged his sole career reverse by outpointing Sonny Whiting last time out – put paid to the hopes of fading Pole Sylwester Walczak before the halfway point had been reached. A third-frame KO in favour of Pagan was the result.

Walczak has turned in a few decent, yet losing, performances in British rings over the years, but truth be told he doesn’t bring much to the table now – his balance looks off and although he was once a tough operator, he is now no stranger to the canvas. He has won just once in 28 outings since early 2013 – that being a four-round points victory in his native Poland in September. This, meanwhile, was Pagan’s first inside-schedule success.

Basildon’s Lewis Adams – previously an amateur with Holland Park ABC, and a British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) champion – encountered no difficulties in his four-rounder against Croatia’s Anto Nakic. The Essex debutant triumphed on the scorecards.

A second four-round contest pitched Witham’s “Dazzling” Darrell Church [left] in against the Czech Republic’s Josef Obeslo, with this one going the distance too. Church handed the visitor his 14th consecutive defeat, with referee-for-the-night Robert Williams raising Darrell’s arm at the end. The victor is out again in Bethnal Green in two months’ time.

A three-session exhibition bout between Chessington’s Richard Harrison and Middleton’s Curtis Gargano completed proceedings.

THE VERDICT The locals enjoy having boxing in their town.