ALLINGTON STAYS UNBEATEN

And Codona wins comeback

STEVE WRAITH became the latest victim of ‘promoter’s disease’, with various mishaps reducing his bill at Tolworth Recreation Centre to just three bouts. But all were entertaining, and enjoyed by a good house.

Egham’s Billy Allington made it five in a row by outscoring Fonz Alexander (Newark) over six, referee Ian John-lewis (officiating throughout) tallying 60-54.

Alexander pressed forward but Allington stood off, picking his shots effectively as his opponent came in. Allington was always more on target, and stepped up the pace in the last two, rocking Alexander with a right in the fifth and later shoving him out through the ropes. Alexander was under more pressure in the last but held on grimly.

Coming back after more than four years – his last outing was a points loss to Liam Williams – Guildford’s Darren Codona scored a 40-36 win in a four with Eastbourne’s Scott Hillman. The taller Codona took control in the first, with a two-fisted attack. In the second, Hillman was mainly out of distance – he took another load on the ropes but came back gamely, forcing his way inside. Codona held on.

Codona switched to southpaw briefly in the third and never lost control, though Hillman landed some counters and caught his man with a combination to the head in the last.

The other four saw Farnborough’s George Lamport outscore Bangor’s Casey Blair by 40-36. “Speed’s the winner!” shouted a Lamport cornerman, and Lamport really was too elusive for his shorter opponent (who sportingly applauded Lamport after missing widely in the second). Blair hit back, and tried to bore inside – but was repeatedly picked off.

Middleweights Victor Edagha and Denzel Mensah boxed a four-twos exhibition, and aspiring singer Tilly Mae Wells performed two numbers. Former Olympic medallist John Joe Nevin – due to top the bill – was introduced from the ring, and received a big hand.

THE VERDICT The visitors don’t win a round, but they all come to fight.