RYAN’S RIB-BUSTER
Welter prospect Martin rebounds in clinical fashion
SWINDON’S Ryan Martin exploded back into action as he stopped Georgian
Nikoloz Gvajava after 1-31 in the second of a six-threes in headlining a Trifecta-promoted card at the MECA.
Referee Lee Cook completed the full count over the Eastern European after Martin landed with a sickening shot to the ribs which Nikoloz clearly had no idea could be delivered with such venom.
In the opener, Gvajava was relaxed, organised and intent on showing Ryan that his power was of no concern. But Martin set up the punch wonderfully with distracting head shots and thankfully Gvajava, who recovered after medical attention, was able to leave the ring under his own steam.
Exeter’s Harry Webb scored a four- threes shutout over Braintree’s Dylan Draper on Jeff Hinds’ tally.
Webb stalked his man and applied consistent pressure in forcing Dylan into survival mode from the early stages. Despite effective bodywork and some eye-catching uppercuts, Harry couldn’t quite set up the early finish.
Bristol’s David Bailey tuned up for a Celtic title try next time out as he scored a 39-38 four-threes verdict over Lithuania’s Remigijus Ziausys on Mr Cook’s card. Bailey has got an exceptional engine and punch output. He strung sequences of combinations together over all four sessions.
Ziausys, a tough campaigner, was able to counter effectively to force the contest to a tight finish.
Mr Hinds officiated two debutants who boxed over four-threes. Firstly, Witney’s Bradley Townsend impressed in besting Manchester’s Dale Arrowsmith by 40-37. Townsend was sharp and accurate, but Dale was often able to take the sting out of his work by partially catching shots on the gloves.
Secondly, Swindon’s Bec Connolly shut out Poland’s Monica Antonik in an action-packed affair in which both traded leather frequently and freely. Connolly overcame a nasty swelling on her forehead which seemed to come from a clash of heads in the opener.
Swindon first-timer Bronwyn Duff was held to a four-threes 38-38 draw against Bulgarian Teodora Hristova for Mr Cook. Duff was determined and was the busier, but Hristova managed to counter well as Bronwyn tired.
THE VERDICT Martin delivers a brutal finish to bounce back in style after his Michael Mckinson loss last time out in April.