ALL SMILES FOR KYLE

Andy Whittle sees Haywood stay unbeaten with a win over Whiting

BUSY ex-pro Carl Greaves, in his guise as promoter, puts on shows far and wide, but he was back on home territory for this latest offering at Newark Showground.

A quartet of four-rounders – all but one of which went the distance – was on offer for the diners in the Cedric Ford Pavilion, who were treated to their first fistic fare since late 2013.

Kyle Haywood, a southpaw from Earl Shilton, claimed a 40-37 victory over Rochester’s outgunned

Sonny Whiting. Despite being bested and having had his head snapped back by a left uppercut late in the second session, Whiting rallied sufficiently to be awarded a share of the last by referee-for-thenight Kevin Parker.

The evening’s only stoppage was garnered by local debutant Jake “Razor” Sharp, who halted rapidly tiring fellow first-timer Jack Davies of Rochester with just 25 seconds of their bout still to run.

Sharp floored Davies twice in the final stanza, with the second such occasion – from a right to the head – bringing the ending.

The clash between Leicester’s Zimbabwe-born Sheldon Purdy and Gateshead’s Gary Reeve went the way of Purdy who, having used his height and reach advantages to good effect, was duly adjudged a 40-37 winner.

There was plenty of support on hand to urge on Newark debutant Nina Bradley, whose partner Nathan Mcintosh also boxes professionally.

Nina went in with three-fight Poland novice Monika Antonik over four-twos, and encountered little by way of trouble.

Bradley notched her maiden victory by a margin of 40-36, with the visitor, who lost over the same distance in Walsall a couple of months previously, offering little to suggest she might silence the locals.

THE VERDICT A decent small-scale offering in front of an appreciative crowd and guest of honour Alex Arthur MBE.