18-19-20, OUT!

A rare count issued in cruiserweight clash

IAIN MARTELL fired a left to the body which sent Manchester opponent Adam Williams, backside first, out between the ropes and on to the officials’ table at ringside. Referee for the night Lee Cook duly completed a 20-count (as is warranted in such a case) with Adam showing no sign of a willingness to return to the fray.

Just one second of the first round – a ding-dong affair before the defining tumble – remained at the end of the count at The Halls by Marsham.

Not for the first time this season, Sheffield’s Nathan Hardy triumphed from the away corner. Croydon’s Connor Vian – who had won all eight previously – was pipped by the narrowest of margins at the end of six, Mr Cook scoring 58-57 Hardly proving a little too experienced and seemingly wanted it just that little bit more.

There was victory over six too for Braintree’s Southern Area super-welterweight champ Billy Bird, who with a shot at the vacant English title and Tewkesbury’s Adam Harper looming early in the new season stayed busy in taking every round against Islington’s “Brown Eagle” Jordan Grannum who had been experiencing a decent run of form as of late, winning one and drawing one of his last three.

Wisbech super-welter Joe Steed having notched a debut points win back in May made it two out of two with a 40-36 success against experienced Norwich operator Duane Green who had prompted the retirement of Redditch’s Carl Dickens by outpointing him in Birmingham last time out.

Popular Ipswich heavyweight Fabio Wardley, who has suffered some cruel luck with opponents pulling out late, experienced a case of deja-vu and was left once more without a fight after yet another late, late withdrawal. He will no doubt go again on home territory in September.

THE VERDICT Just the four bouts to round off the season in Norfolk but action aplenty anyway.