SAHOTA WINS THRILLER
SKILL, determination and courage took
Sanjeev Sahota to a close but deserved points win over Idris Hill in their exciting 10-rounder at Brentwood Leisure Centre. The bout, promoted by Johnney Roye, was an official eliminator for Siar Ozgul’s Southern Area super-lightweight title.
Sahota (Hornchurch) boxed most of the second half with a closed right eye. The damage appeared in the sixth, and referee Lee Cook indicated it had been caused by a punch – so had Sahota been unable to continue, he would have lost the bout. But Sahota gutted it out, survived a lengthy inspection in the ninth – and ultimately took the 97-96 verdict.
This was intriguing from the outset. Hill (Westcliff-on-sea) looked stronger and more solid, and there was always the feeling that he might get to his man, maybe wear him down. But Sahota fought the perfect fight, moving and scoring with jabs. Sahota could never relax, but looked in front at the half-way stage – but things changed dramatically in the sixth, when the damage to his eye appeared. Sensing his opponent’s discomfort, Hill came out strongly for the seventh and found the target, rocking Sahota with a right.
But Sahota wasn’t giving up. He joined battle bravely at the start of the eighth, then went back to his successful jaband-move tactics. There were anxious moments at the start of the ninth, when referee Cook called on the ringside doctor – but, after a prolonged examination, Sahota was allowed to continue.
There was good action in both the last two sessions. Both used the jab, and when Hill opened up Sahota hit back. Hill got close in the 10th, and now Sahota was marked by the left eye as well – and Sahota launched an attack in the second half, which saw both working away until the bell. This must go on again. Unbeaten Mark Little (Romford) outworked Lithuanian Imantas
Davidaitis and took referee Chas Coakley’s 59-56 verdict in their sixrounder, which saw both sustain damage to the left eye.
I thought the margin a little harsh on Davidaitis, who used his advantages intelligently, standing off and catching Little as he came in. But Little kept pressing forward and Davidaitis was frequently backed up against the ropes, though he always tried to fire back. Basildon’s Davis Pagan outscored Slovakian Rudolf Durica over six, referee Cook scoring 60-54.
Pagan’s extra reach was the key – he was landing, while Durica was missing. Durica presented an awkward, side-on target, and held in the fourth when a Pagan attack had him under pressure. Durica tried to launch an attack in the last, but was quickly forced back.
Adam Salman (Morden) beat Edvinas Puplauskas
over six, referee Cook scoring 59-56.
Puplauskas had some success at a distance but Salman came close and landed – and a burst to the body in the third had Puplauskas turning away. Salman really upped the pressure in the last two, though he was caught on the ropes for a moment in the sixth.
Adrian Martin (Ingatestone) used an accurate left jab to take a six-round verdict over Lithuanian Arvydas Trizno,
referee Cook scoring 59-56.
Trizno came forward but got caught, though he landed a couple of fair right counters in the fifth. Local hero Richie Gray beat Bangor’s game Casey Blair over six, referee Coakley tabbing 60-54. Again the loser tried, and even had Gray against the ropes a few times – but Gray kept cool and boxed his way off. Blair’s face was marked up by the end, and he was bleeding from a swelling below the left eye. Debutant Daniel Egbunike (Kingston) scored the evening’s only quick win, halting Belfast’s Alec Bazza in the second of a scheduled four.
A left hook sent Bazza down on his haunches in Egbunike’s corner, and when he got up Egbunike promptly opened up – and a left to the body had Bazza crashing down on his back.
His corner threw in the towel but Bazza got up at five – and referee Cook completed the eight-count and then waved it off after 2-04.
In other fours Mr Coakley gave 40-36 wins to Witham’s Darrell Church over Dinnington’s Darren Snow; Grays’ Tey Lynn Jones over Lithuanian Delvidas Sajauka; and Ealing’s Jake O’meara over Lithuania’s Andrej Capur.
SAHOTA GUTTED IT OUT AND SURVIVED AN INSPECTION