FREE WHEELIN’
Wheeler turns on the style in to turn back challenge of Speight
UNBEATEN Frome super-feather Ryan
Wheeler passed his toughest test when he outpointed former British title challenger Jamie Speight over six-threes at Ashton Gate.
The 24-year-old Somerset southpaw’s accurate lead was supplemented by sharp combinations, but the ringwise Speight’a head movement and fleetness of foot made him an elusive target in the early stages. As the Devonian tired, Ryan enjoyed greater success, but Jamie did enough to share the last on Kieran Mccann’s 60-55 card.
The other six-twos brought victory for popular Dan Sarkozi, but the local welter continues to infuriate his cornermen with his tentative approach. Despite a reach advantage over Islington’s Jordan Grannum, Sarkozi was repeatedly short with his jabs, seemingly reluctant to step into range. The North Londoner came on late, but Dan still edged it 58-57 for referee Lee Every.
The other bouts were all four-threes, with the clash between Weston’s Liam Hunt and Welshman Geraint Goodridge the best. Goodridge, from Port Talbot, took an all-action opener, Hunt controlled the middle two and Geraint dominated the last. Mr Every’s 38-38 looked fair. Nathan Halton, from Torquay, dropped winless Scott Hillman (Eastbourne) in the first and strolled to 40-35 from Mr Mccann, while Bristolian Aaron Sutton was a 40-36 winner for the same official against Warminster’s
Paul Cummings, while Mr Every matched that margin for another local,
Tyler Davies, over Braintree trier Dylan Draper.
Mr Every also scored 40-36 as two imports took their lumps bravely. Hungarian Norbert Szekeres stood up well to returning Gloucester man Rob
Boardman, but perhaps it is time to say farewell to shopworn Latvian Jevgenijs
Andrejevs after his loss to Yeovil-raised Pole Pawel August, his 33rd defeat on British soil. The only early ending came when Torquay’s Adam Bannister injured an ankle when floored by hometowner Tim Cutler late in the opener and pulled out in the interval.