CRAIG DIGS IN
A late, late show sees Derbyshire claim the spoils in a barnburner
BENTLEY’S Craig Derbyshire, having stepped up to 10 rounds for the first time, dug deep when it really mattered at Leigh Sports Village. He scored two heavy knockdowns at the tail end of an absolute cracker against a tiring but still dangerous Anthony Smith to edge the 95-94 decision of referee John Latham for the vacant Central Area superflyweight title.
Liverpool lefty Smith, cut above both eyes from head clashes, had looked headed for victory after eight, but the tenacious Derbyshire turned things around.
Ellesmere Port’s Mason Cartwright claimed victory right at the end of the fourth of a scheduled eight when Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson – already shaken by an overhand right – was unable to continue after twisting his left knee as he went down in the corner following a left hook. Jamie Kirkpatrick officiated.
A return over six saw Newark’s Fonz Alexander stepping in at 12 hours’ notice against Ellesmere Port’s Matty Fagan, and for the second time it was Matty who took every round, with Mr Latham scoring 60-54 from ringside for referee Kirkpatrick.
Luke Willis, of Liverpool, and Ancoats’ Dale Coyne
both registered 40-36 wins for Mr Latham over experienced opposition in the shape of Stockport’s Jamie Quinn and Latvia’s Raimonds Sniedze. Mr Kirkpatrick oversaw Willis’ victory.
Liverpool’s Lloyd Campbell
grabbed a 40-37 win from Mr Latham over Stourbridge’s Kevin Mccauley, who took a share of the last. Mr Kirkpatrick officiated.
Skelmersdale’s Colin Day was adjudged a narrow 39-38 winner for Mr Latham over Reading’s always-combative Ibrar Riyaz,
while the same official was forced to intervene 72 seconds into the second of a four between Liverpool’s Tom Mcguinness
and Birmingham-based Iranian Yaddollah Ghasemi. With his left eye cut and swollen, Ghasemi was under heavy pressure at the time of the stoppage.