BOMBS AWAY!
Dickinson wins a heavyweight humdinger to stay unbeaten
THE well-supported Alex Dickinson did not disappoint the vast number of fans he brought to Greeenbank Leisure Centre as MTK Global promoted in Liverpool for the first time. The Formby heavyweight, a one-time national amateur champion, decided to meet Bulgaria’s Ivan Emilov head-on, and with the Eastern European adopting a similar mindset, the bout turned into a four-round classic.
The pace was frantic from the opening bell and both men swung wildly as each aimed to end the fight in dramatic fashion. The cleaner work, and last word of exchanges, often came from Dickinson but the blood that stained his face at the final bell was a clear indicator at just how hard a fight this was. Third man Jamie Kirkpatrick scored 39-37 in his favour.
Liverpool’s Ryan Farrag, a former European bantamweight champion, was having his first fight in six months, and that was evident in the final stages against Spain-based Nicaraguan, Jose Hernandez. Farrag was always doing enough to just stay ahead, but in the fifth, frequent attacks from Hernandez – notably the uppercut – buzzed Farrag. He spent the last two rounds in survival mode, clinging on at times, but picked up a 58-57 verdict from Phil Edwards.
Another Nicaraguan import on the show was Elvin Perez, but his night was cut short by former amateur standout, Sam Maxwell. The Liverpool prospect was relentless from the outset and his heavy hands forced a sensible stoppage from Edwards after just 42 seconds. Maxwell’s former Salisbury ABC teammate, Ged Carroll, was also victorious against Killamarsh’s Lee Connelly in a contest that threatened to ignite several times. Carroll remained the smarter throughout and his eye-catching shots ensured that the 59-55 call from Kirkpatrick was the correct one.
THE VERDICT One to remember atop the bill as Dickinson and Emilov go hell for leather.