BILBAO BECKONS
Gavin comes through warm-up unscathed
WITH a trip to Bilbao to challenge for the European welterweight title currently held by local hero Kerman Lejarraga just two short months away, the preparations of Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin continued apace with a run-out on home turf at the Holiday Inn, where a 60-54 victory over experienced Kevin Mccauley was awarded to him by referee Kevin Parker.
To his credit, Mccauley, whilst bested and suffering an early cut by the right eye, hadn’t come just for a move-around. He turned in a more than decent showing. Gavin, though, stayed busy and mixed things up nicely while remaining as expected a level above. Birmingham’s hugely popular Kash Ali shook off one or two cobwebs with a brief outing against Manchester’s
Lee Carter, who had been knocked out early in his last two.
Another KO defeat for the man from Gorton was something he could have done without – as was the punishing left to the body early in the second of a scheduled six which dropped him to his knees in centre ring for the duration of trialist referee Chris Dean’s count. The fortunes of Solihull’s Jordan
Clayton had nosedived over the last year, a cut eye stoppage loss at the hands of Danny Little coming hard on the heels of a shared contest against Sheffield’s Nathan Hardy. So his 40-37 win here (scored from ringside by Mr Parker) despite being warned for three low blows and for hitting and holding against Brierley Hill’s MJ Hall, will be welcome.
Not so welcome for Jordan will be the sustaining of yet another nasty cut above the left eye.
There was a 39-39 debut draw for Brummie Brad Thomas at the culmination of a thrilling 100 mph four-rounder. Previously active on the unlicensed circuit, Thomas, who bled heavily from the nose, went toe-to-toe throughout with Worcester’s ultra-game
Michael Mooney, who I thought might have nicked it.
THE VERDICT Gavin can expect the atmosphere next time out to be a little more intimidating.