AMATEURS
Five wins for GB against Croatia in Gateshead
British Lionhearts roar against Croatia
GREAT BRITAIN’S decision to take the World Series of Boxing on the road was totally vindicated as a capacity crowd roared the Lionhearts to their first victory of 2018.
The British Lionhearts, powered by North East talent, whitewashed the Croatian Knights 5-0 at Gateshead Leisure Centre.
While York Hall has proven a fitting, and winning, home for this country’s WSB franchise, the move to take top-level action outside the capital has been an imaginative one.
Certainly, Gateshead and the North-east’s passionate fans have set a high bar for the events which follow, the Lionhearts facing Italia Thunder at Liverpool’s Auditorium on March 2 and France’s Fighting Roosters in Newport (April 14).
The presence of three local heroes ensured a big crowd at a venue accustomed to championship boxing, including the ABA finals a quarter of a century ago, so the pressure was on Pat Mccormack,
Calum French and Kiaran Macdonald and how they delivered, with guests Joe Ward and Patrick Mailata putting the icing on the cake.
Croatia began and finished aggressively though they were no great shakes in between, yet GB’S head coach, Rob Mccracken, was justifiably thrilled.
“There has been quite a buildup to this which creates an bit of extra pressure but all of the boxers handled it well and can be proud,” he said. “It was a superb performance and a great atmosphere.
“Over the years, we have had some good nights in WSB and this one ranks rights up there with the best of them.”
Macdonald set the ball rolling in style with a unanimous points victory over David Alaverdian.
The Israeli, guesting for the Knights, probably began as favourite, but he was given an uncomfortable WSB debut by the Sunderland flyweight, who was boxing for the first time after a sixmonth injury lay-off and having moved up a division.
If there were any nerves or ring-rust, it did not show as the southpaw produced a highlyaccomplished display.
Using his significant height and reach advantage, the 20-year-old was sharp with his jab and even sharper with his footwork, enticing miss after miss from Alaverdian.
Kiaran landed a number of combinations against a comeforward boxer and while Alaverdian upped his effort in the last, Macdonald went punch for punch with him in the final 20 seconds to triumph on all three scorecards, 48-47, 50-45 and 49-46.
The second bout was even more one-sided as Ward totally outclassed Damir Plantic at lightheavyweight.
While the Croatian got through with a cracking right bang on the button at the end of the second round, that was about all he landed in the entire 15 minutes.
Ward won as he pleased, with countless right-left combinations, with the Irish southpaw letting his left go in the last.
New Zealander Mailata’s second WSB victory was just as straightforward.
What Mailata, an ex-rival of a certain Joseph Parker, conceded in height and reach to Marijan Brnic, he more than made up for with hand-speed and aggression as he controlled the super-heavyweight confrontation.
The only time the Knights corner got excited was when Brnic escaped off the ropes in round three, so it was no surprise they withdrew him before the fourth could commence.
With the win in the bag, French brought the house down with an insatiable home-town performance against Matteo Komadina in the battle of the southpaws at lightweight.
Battle is probably a loose description. Having looked to engage in the first three minutes, the Knights debutant went into retreat mode as the Birtley star launched attack after attack.
It was relentless stuff as French followed an ultra-accurate right by driving his left into Komadina’s head.
The Croatian mustered a bit of spirit in the last round but a landslide score was inevitable, especially after a couple of points deductions, French winning 50-39, 50-43 and 50-42.
That left the stage free to Birtley team-mate Mccormack to put his emphatic seal on the triumph.
The 22-year-old welter must rate as Britain’s big hope for Olympic glory in Tokyo and his public turned out in force for a rare glimpse of the Washington boxer.
He did not disappoint against Mate Rudan, using his breathtaking speed to reel off salvo after salvo to his rival’s head and body. Mccormack ran through much of his repertoire though the Croatian, to his credit, displayed commendable ambition despite the odds.
In fact, Rudan made a decent fist of round four, but the European silver medallist resumed normal service in the last session ahead of a 50-45, 50-44 and 49-46 success.