MAN vs BOY
Evans’ experience proves telling against youthful Jones
BLACKWOOD’S former British lightweight title challenger Craig Evans made experience tell as he outpointed Boy
Jones over 10 rounds at the Hilton Hotel. Given only two weeks’ notice, Evans came out looking to stamp his authority on the Chingford youngster, and did so with thumping one-twos from his southpaw stance, although he did pick up cuts by both eyes.
The sheer volume of Evans’ punches never allowed Jones to find any rhythm. It was only in the last couple of rounds, when the Welshman began to tire, that Jones started to enjoy some success. Despite Jones’ grandstand finish, Evans had his hand raised at the end by referee Phil Edwards. Judges Steve Gray and Marcus Mcdonnell agreed on 97-93, while Valerio Mosca had it wider at 98-92.
Unbeaten Carstairs prospect Willy Hutchinson, now training in Sheffield at the Ingle Gym, showed his quality as Hungary’s Ferenc Albert was led back to his corner by referee Jeff Hinds after 1-42 of the second in a scheduled six-rounder. Albert just didn’t know where the next punch was coming from as the Scotsman continually switched stance. An array of shots put Albert over for an eight-count early in the second, before a left hand resulted in another count of ‘eight’. A stinging right finally finished the job.
Undefeated Battersea KO merchant Denzel Bentley struck again by taking a class scalp in the shape of Cameroonian danger man Serge Ambomo – a 2012 Olympian. Bentley easily avoided the wild swipes of the Doncaster-domiciled pocket battleship. When a perfectly timed right hand from Bentley connected in the second, Ambomo was unable to beat referee Hinds’ count at 1-55 (set for six).
The Nordoff Robbins Icon Award was given to Naseem Hamed, while the evening’s promoter, Frank Warren, accepted the Special Achievement Award on behalf of the indisposed Nicola Adams.
THE VERDICT Late substitute Evans knows too much for Jones.