BODY BLOWS HIT THE SPOT

Conway becomes the first man to stop the durable Monaghan

NORTHAMPTON MARCH 9 WHOLE SHOW

THE Deco – a restored 1930s cinema and theatre – played host to pro boxing for the fourth time, with this Errol Johnson promotion comprising a quartet of contests, only two of which went the distance.

The clash between local Kieron Conway and Salford’s Chris Monaghan, who had never previously been stopped, was slated for eight. However, with Conroy’s body shots having increasingly taken their toll, referee-for-the-night Kevin Parker brought a close to proceedings with 66 seconds of the seventh remaining.

Northampton’s Nathan Reeve disposed of hugely experienced Estonia-born veteran

Sergey Tasimov early in the third of a scheduled six. Mr Parker intervened with just 44 seconds of the round having gone.

The two tussles that lasted the course were both four-round affairs, with Curtis Felix Jnr and Conroy Downer extending their 100 per cent records with wins over seasoned Lithuanian opposition.

Felix proved far too much for a regular visitor in the shape of Andrej Cepur who, unusually for him, seemed to flag with every passing round. It finished 40-35 in favour of the Milton Keynes-based Northampton native.

Irthlingborough’s Jamaica-born Downer banked victory number two by shutting out tough Remigijus Ziausys, who was happy to tuck up tight and lean back on the ropes to avoid the worst of what came his way. This was contest number 114 for the visitor, who has reached the final bell on all but four occasions.

THE VERDICT After four distance wins in his first four fights, Conway has now scored three stoppages in a row.

FULL RESULTS

Kieron Conway (157lbs 1oz), 7-0 (3), w rsf 7 Chris Monaghan (159lbs), 6-2-1; Nathan Reeve (117lbs 5oz), 10-2 (6), w rsf 3 Sergey Tasimov (116lbs 2oz), 12-72-5 (2); Curtis Felix Jnr (147lbs 9oz), 5-0 (1), w rsf 5 Andrej Cepur (151 1/2lbs), 9-48-2; Conroy Downer (197 1/2lbs), 2-0 (5), w pts 4 Remigijus Ziausys (191lbs 6oz), 20-89-5 (10).