STEALING THE SHOW
Clarke makes the most of main event falling through
EADING’S
O’shane Clarke
scored a third-round knockdown and ran out an eight-rounds points winner over
Adam Barker
(Worcester Park) at York Hall.
Both were coming back after losing their unbeaten records last time out – Clarke to Christian Hoskin Gomez in September, Barker against Tyler Goodjohn in this ring in July. That bout was refereed by Lee Cook, who was in charge tonight – and his 78-74 scoreline didn’t reflect Barker’s contribution, with several rounds looking close. Barker finished with a swelling on the left cheek and a bump under the right eye.
The programme notes described this as “a bit of a grudge fight” and there was definitely some needle, with Mr Cook warning both.
Both began by circling, looking for openings – then Clarke opened up. Twice in the first Barker was pinned on the ropes, but he hit back grimly.
The second saw Barker pressing, Clarke moving – and when Clarke opened up again Barker came straight back. In the third a left clip to the head had Barker down for two, but he went back on the offensive – and now Clarke was on the ropes, grabbing as Barker came in.
The fourth was quieter but Barker launched an attack in the fifth, forcing Clarke to hold and then move away. Barker slipped over, briefly switched to southpaw – and there was some aggravation after the bell, with Clarke moving to follow Barker to his corner. Referee Cook quickly separated them, and took time out at the start of the sixth to lecture them both.
Soon Clarke had Barker on the ropes again, but Barker managed to get away – and in the seventh a left hook through the middle had Clarke grinning before coming back with a burst. The last saw Barker trying to press but getting caught on the ropes again – but hitting back as Clarke came in. Joseph Pyle promoted for Noble Art Promotions.
The bout was elevated to main event when the original top-liner – Kirk Garvey vs Joel Mcintyre for the vacant Southern Area light-heavyweight title – fell through at short notice. “Medical reasons – that’s all I can say at this stage,” Pyle said. “I’m hoping things will get sorted out, so I can
put it on my next show, on July 21 [at the Westcroft Leisure Centre, Carshalton]. That’s a cracking bout.”
Louis Adolphe (Wimbledon) outscored Bulgaria’s Teodor Nikolov over six, dropping his man twice en route to a 60-52 verdict from referee Lee Every.
It wasn’t all one-way – Nikolov showed plenty of effort but was outworked. A right to the head in the third had a delayed effect, Nikolov finally going down by the ropes. He was up quickly, and the bell rang soon after.
Adolphe went on the attack in the fourth, and Nikolov was bundled over (no count) before being floored by a right to the head. Again he was up quickly, and the bell prevented Adolphe from following up.
In the fifth Adolphe briefly switched to southpaw, and landed two solid bodyshots. Nikolov ducked, and tried to grab – he tried to hit back in the last but then went on the run, holding when Adolphe opened up.
Six four-rounders completed the bill, with two “house fighters” losing their 100 per cent records and the others taking 40-36 verdicts.
In the curtain-raiser, Brixton’s Ashley
Bailey Dumetz bested Mitchell Preedy (Hayes) in a cracker. Going in, southpaw Preedy was 3-0 while Dumetz had lost his last four – but Dumetz came storming out for the first and Preedy seemed taken by surprise.
Dumetz appeared to outwork his man over the first two, though his work rate dropped a little in the third, and now Preedy looked to have more in the tank. In the fourth Dumetz pressed forward but Preedy hit back gamely.
Fleet’s Derek Renfrew had won four straight, the last two inside the distance – but was held to a 38-38 draw by Llanelli first-timer Spencer Thomas.
Styles clashed (Renfrew orthodox, Thomas southpaw) and referee Every spoke to both. Renfrew had a bump under the right eye while Thomas had a swelling below the hairline.
The advantage swayed from one to the other, with Thomas going on the attack in the second and finding the target, but forced to hold when Renfrew opened up. A Renfrew offensive had Thomas holding in the last but he landed a fair right, then opened up to have Renfrew holding – and they were swapping punches at the bell.
Croydon’s Nathaniel Wilson showed some of the slick moves and showmanship of his illustrious father (two-weight “world” champion Chris Eubank Snr) and clearly outscored
Naheem Chaudhry (Blackburn). Chaudhry tried to keep his distance but was caught by long jabs. Some needle crept in in the last, and Mr Cook spoke to both – and the bout ended with Wilson on the attack. Mr Cook also handled Germaine
Brown’s win over Yeovil’s Bryn Wain. Brown (Kingston) was on top throughout, and Wain held in the third after shipping a right uppercut and in the last from a right to the side of the head. Wain bled from the nose in the last.
Harry Limburn (Eastleigh) took Mr Every’s verdict over Gloucester’s Andy
Harris. Limburn consistently beat Harris to the punch, though Harris kept moving and fired in the occasional counter.
George Lamport (Farnborough) made all the running and bested Atherton’s William Warburton, who kept on the move and used a high guard. Every refereed.
THE VERDICT Losing bill-topper was a blow, but still a good-value show.