UP IN LIGHTS
‘Hollywood Josh’ closes in on his rst pro title shot, writes Simon Euan-smith from ringside
JOSHUA EJAKPOVI is gunning for the Southern Area super-welterweight title following his win over Max Wicks in their official eliminator at York Hall. The scheduled 10-rounder ended after the seventh, a damaged right hand causing Wicks’ corner to call referee Lee Cook over and pull their man out. But southpaw Ejakpovi (Marylebone) – nicknamed “Hollywood Josh” – looked headed for victory anyway.
Wicks (Worthing) tried to get close, and there was a lot of feinting and missing, but Ejakpovi used his reach advantage well, piling up points with long right jabs. Ejakpovi repeatedly beat his man to the punch, and in the fifth I noted that Wicks was “not letting his hands go.”
Ejakpovi opened up in the sixth to have Wicks backing off, and there was blood on Wicks’ hairline. He took the fight to Ejakpovi in the seventh, and opened a cut on his right eyebrow when heads clashed accidentally. But it was a last hurrah.
The second 10-rounder on this Mickey Helliet promotion saw unbeaten Quaise Khademi (an Afghan based in East Ham) take referee Cook’s 98-94 verdict over Pablo Narvaez (a Nicaraguan based in Barcelona).
It was Khademi’s first time beyond four rounds, but he had no problems, and it was Narvaez’s work rate that started to drop after the third. The visitor had come to fight but was definitely coming second in the fourth and fifth, with Khademi picking his shots better and Narvaez looking open.
Narvaez rallied when he could, almost pushing Khademi through the second and third ropes in the eighth, and it was always fast-moving and entertaining. Narvaez made big efforts in the ninth and 10th, coming forward and trying to take the fight to his rival, but Khademi used good footwork to dance out of danger.
Three debutants had mixed fortunes. Londoner Simon Corcoran (brother of former WBO welterweight title challenger Gary) took on 299-fight veteran Kristian Laight (Nuneaton) and took Mr Cook’s 40-36 decision. Corcoran showed good punch-variety, placing his shots well and scoring with two good lefts to the body at the end of the third.
Rylan Charlton (Norwich) had a dream start, halting Blackwood southpaw Paul Ducie in the second of a scheduled four. Charlton picked his shots effectively, and in the second a combination to the head sent Ducie down. He was up at ‘six’, but referee Mark Bates completed the eight-count and then waved it off after 1-32.
Zac Thompson was matched tough against Andre Sterling (7-0 going in) and was halted in the third of a slated six. Thompson was willing to come forward, and scored in close in the second, but Sterling (New Cross) came back with two rights and opened up to have Thompson on the ropes. In the third, Sterling was beating his man to the punch, and a big right uppercut prompted referee Chas Coakley to make a well-judged stoppage at 1-53. Thompson can come again.
Christian Hoskin Gomez (Plymouth) became the first man to take Battersea’s
Denzel Bentley the distance, referee Bates scoring their six-rounder 60-55. Gomez had a go but found Bentley elusive, and the Londoner chose his attacks well, sometimes switching to southpaw.
Evesham’s Brett Fidoe cause a mild upset, holding Hackney’s Frank Arnold to a four-round draw. Arnold, winner of his previous two, looked altogether bigger and made the better start. But Fidoe really upped his effort in the third, and landed a good right to the head in the last. Mr Bates scored it 38-38.
Derrick Osaze (Nottingham) outscored York’s Harry Matthews, referee Cook marking 40-36. Osaze cut Matthews’ left eyebrow in the first and staggered him with a right in the second.
JJ Hughes (Bexleyheath) clearly outpointed Middleton southpaw Darryl Sharp, Mr Coakley scoring 60-54. Meanwhile, Sean Philips (Gravesend) beat Atherton veteran William Warburton 40-37, with Mr Coakley officiating again.
There were 40-37 wins for Conroy Downer (Northampton) over Manchester’s
Adam Williams (Mr Bates), Waterford’s
Craig Mccarthy against Bognor Regis’ Callum Ide (Mr Cook), and Ermal Dida (Bedford/albania) over Sheffield’s Harron Karim (Mr Coakley).
Shutout 40-36 victories went the way of Loughton’s Daniel Khan against Manchester’s Taka Bembere (Mr Bates), and Ohio Kain Iremiren versus Lydney’s
Lewis van Poetsch (Mr Coakley).
Reading’s upcoming British superwelterweight title challenger Asinia Byfield boxed a four-round exhibition with Birmingham’s Kaisee Benjamin.
THE VERDICT A stacked show in the capital – 15 fights plus an exhibition.