LONG ROAD AHEAD
But Price too good for limited Sokolowski as latest comeback begins
DAVID PRICE successfully launched his latest comeback, taking a clear six-round verdict over game Kamil Sokolowski at Brentwood Leisure Centre.
Boxing for the first time since his February loss to Christian Hammer in a WBO European heavyweight title bid, Price (Liverpool) had big advantages in height, weight and reach. Sokolowski, a Pole based in Plymouth, used the only tactics possible – pressing forward and trying to unload in close – and certainly played his part, despite referee Chas Coakley’s 60-54 scoreline.
The physical differences meant there were frequent tangles, and Mr Coakley spoke to both more than once.
A right, and following right-left combination, had Sokolowski backing off in the first, but he landed a good right in the second that had Price unsteady for a moment. But Price quickly came back with a right of his own.
Sokolowski got close in the third, and Price held – but the Liverpudlian was scoring with body shots in the fourth, and there was a large swelling below Sokolowski’s left eye. Price was frequently forced to hold, but scored with jabs and rights to the head – one of which knocked Sokolowski into the ropes in the fifth. So Price – who finished with a swelling by the right eye - got the win he needed. He’ll be looking to build on it.
Tey Lynn Jones (Grays) outscored York’s Harry Matthews in a good-value six, referee Coakley scoring 58-54 – giving Jones a 10-7 round in the third when Matthews was floored twice by rights, first for two and then for eight. Matthews finished the session with some damage to the left eye, and picked up a swelling under the right in the fourth.
But Matthews came to fight, and was there to meet Jones when he attacked. A tangle in the fifth saw both go over, and they kept fighting to the last, Matthews occasionally switching to southpaw.
Romford’s Paul Upton had his hands full with Doncaster’s Adam Jones. Referee Coakley scored Upton a 58-57 winner after another good six.
Jones has now got 14 losses and a draw in his last 15, but he’s far better than that. He never stopped trying, and raised a bump under Upton’s left eye in the second. Upton used his superior boxing, frequently switching to southpaw, and Jones was grazed below the left eye.
The styles blended well – Jones pressing, Upton countering – and there was good action in every round.
Out of the ring for a day short of two years, Romford’s Tony Conquest outscored Remigijus Ziausys (Lithuania) over six, referee Coakley scoring 60-54. Ziausys was staggered by in the second.
Basildon’s Davis Pagan beat Bulgarian
Angel Emilov in an entertaining six, referee Kieran Mccann scoring 60-54.
All remaining bouts on this Johnney Roye promotion were scheduled for four. Ireland’s Gary Sweeney was a firstround winner over Lithuanian Imantas Davidaitis. The visitor was wrestled down, then floored in his own corner by a left to the body. Referee Mccann completed the count at 1-30.
Bangor’s Casey Blair reacted angrily after being halted in the second against Northampton’s Kieron Conway – doing a defiant dance. But he sportingly came over to congratulate his conqueror.
Conway picked his shots well in the first and had Blair trapped on the ropes in the second – and an unanswered burst of stiff head-shots prompted referee Coakley to call it off after 2-33.
Daniel Egbunike (Kingston) halted Spain’s Israel Munoz after 1-07 of the fourth. A burst to the head had Munoz down by the ropes. Egbunike followed up quickly, jerking Munoz’ head back with a right – and Munoz was taking stick on the ropes when referee Mccann waved it off.
London debutant Dan Azeez clearly outpointed Bulgarian Daniel Borisov, referee Mccann’s 40-33 scoreline reflecting a 10-7 fourth which saw Borisov down twice, from rights, and losing a point for holding after several warnings.
Local Richie Gray took a repeat win over Bulgaria’s Konstantin Alexandrov, referee Mccann scoring 40-36. Gray beat Alexandrov by 60-54 in a six-rounder here in March.
Kaan Hawes (Witham) beat Bicester’s
Scott James in an entertaining four, referee Coakley scoring 39-37.
There were 40-36 wins for two debutants – Basildon’s Lewis Smith over Braintree’s Dylan Draper (Mccann) and Cheshunt’s Georgii Bacon over Stokeon-trent’s Chris Nixon (Coakley).
THE VERDICT Price gets the win he needs – but what happens now?