CRUISE CONTROL

Fan-favourite Gwynne warms up for December title fight

LOCAL favourite Gavin Gwynne, with a Welsh title fight pencilled in for December, moved up to eightthrees and kept up a decent pace in outscoring the ever-willing Fonz Alexander by 80-73 for referee Martin Williams.

The well-supported Gwynne, from nearby Treharris, began confidently, immediately establishing his jab as the key weapon in the contest. The floppyfringed Fonz, from Newark, rarely discomfited ‘Double G’, who nevertheless ended the third with a slight swelling beneath the right eye, the product of an errant elbow.

In the sixth Gavin began to introduce uppercuts and his overall accuracy and variety saw him comfortably home.

With intended foe William Warburton ruled out by injury, Cardiff’s Olympic silver medallist Fred Evans, in his second pro outing, met winless London-italian Victor Edagha over four-threes.

In his rare attacks, the ungainly Edagha’s legs were splayed like a giraffe bending to graze on a low branch, he faced downwards as if checking for flaws in the canvas and his arms whirled like the blades of a helicopter. Against such a man, it is impossible to look good.

Frustrated Fred did what he could, emerging with a 40-36 verdict from ringside judge Reece Carter as triallist referee Chris Jones patrolled the ring.

Cardiffian light-heavy Nathan Thorley, tackling a taller man for the first time in 6ft 8in Lithuanian cruiser Imantas Davidaitis, at first seemed inhibited by the prospect. But he adapted well to earn a 40-36 victory from Mr Williams, scoring for Mr Jones.

The other four-threes all saw home wins. Ricky Rowlands, from Phillipstown, looked flattered by Mr Carter’s 40-37 margin over Islington’s Jordan Grannum, who might have merited a draw, but the Bridgend official’s 40-36 for Swansea’s popular Kristian Touze

against Swindon trier Joe Beeden

was spot on, while Mr Williams came up with an identical tally in the show-opener, Caerphilly’s all-action Callum Busuttil

dominating game Bristolian Harvey Hemsley.

THE VERDICT ‘Double G’ looks a good bet to add a pro title to his national honours as an amateur.