TEY RETAINS
Lynn Jones keeps hold of his Southern Area strap against Codona
LOCAL middleweight Tey Lynn Jones successfully defended his Southern Area title with a close 96-94 points win over Guildford’s Darren Codona at Grays Civic Hall (MTK London). After a heated build-up, Codona won the early jab exchanges, before the action kicked into life. Lynn Jones forced the pace towards the end of the first round, but Codona was happy to box on the back foot, countering effectively with the right hand.
Tey found his rhythm in the second and third, doubling up his jab well. However, at times he came in too close and smothered his own work. The fight was messy in the middle rounds, with both men being warned by referee Kieran Mccann for holding. After the warning, the pair opted to trade toe to toe in the centre of the ring.
With amazing support from his home crowd, Tey let his hands go more in the sixth, switching the left hook from head to body well and keeping Codona at range. A clash of heads in the seventh saw Lynn Jones’ left eye open up with blood, and Codona capitalised, coming in with effective flurries on the ropes.
Tey was on the front foot more in the closing rounds, cutting Codona by the left eye with a right hand. Darren was outworked in the later stages by the home fighter, who landed some solid right hands. Lynn Jones was the busier fighter overall, despite having to endure some difficult and frustrating periods at times.
Originating from Poland, Westcliff-onsea super-feather Piotr Mirga claimed a 39-37 decision from referee Lee Every against Reading’s Ibrar Riyaz. Mirga landed his left hook frequently in the opening round and smartly switched from head to body throughout. Riyaz stayed tight and had most of his success with wild, swinging right-hook counters in the third. After an explosive tradeoff at the start of the final frame, Mirga dug deep and controlled the final two minutes to seal the win.
Belfast-based welterweight Michael Mckinson eased past Stourbridge’s
Kevin Mccauley with a 40-36 decision for Mr Mccann. Mckinson’s footwork was impressive in the opening round and he displayed his power with the southpaw left hand when he pinned Mccauley on the ropes and unloaded. All of the pressure came from Mckinson, while Mccauley held and spoiled in traditional journeyman style. Mckinson continuously looked for an opening, picked his shots well and dug into the body beautifully in the final session.
Basildon lightweight Lewis Adams
claimed a 60-55 verdict (Mr Every) over Hereford’s Dean Evans. Adams worked well on the inside, targeting the midsection and forcing the pace of the fight throughout. Evans stayed on the back foot and enjoyed some success in the fifth when he held and took away Adams’ rhythm with a consistent work rate and unorthodox combos. Adams saw the final round out with ease, jabbing well and moving off after exchanges.
Romford’s former Commonwealth cruiserweight titlist Tony Conquest
made a successful return to the ring after over seven months out with an eye-catching fifth-round stoppage of Stockholm’s Marcus Alberts. Conquest was composed and patient, applying considered pressure in the third with big right hands that wobbled Alberts on the bell. The end came in the fifth when a powerful right stopped Alberts in his tracks. With the Swede dazed and out on his feet, another right hand soon came in and forced Mr Mccann to halt the contest at 1-12. It had been set for six.
Isle of Sheppey super-lightweight
Martin Mcdonagh impressed in his second pro outing with a classy and controlled performance against Sheffield’s Qasim Hussain. Mcdonagh dominated behind the jab from the first bell and switched the right hook from head to body nicely. In the second, Mcdonagh displayed slick footwork and shot selection. The pair traded more in the fourth and final round, as Hussain opened up with winging rights. However, Mcdonagh soon got back to his boxing to secure a clear 40-36 verdict on Mr Every’s scorecard.
THE VERDICT Lynn Jones does enough to retain his title in an entertaining tussle.