BACK TO IT
After a losing world title effort, Tennyson has an early night
LOCAL James Tennyson shook off the disappointment of an unsuccessful world title challenge in October with a second-round knockout (slated for 10) of Portsmouth southpaw Garry Neale at the iconic Ulster Hall (Mark H. Dunlop). While Neale was nowhere near the level of Tennyson’s IBF super-featherweight title conqueror, Tevin Farmer, he came to engage.
Tennyson planted his feet immediately, showing why he is so proficient at this level, unleashing uppercuts to head and body behind a ramrod jab. Neale took a knee in the second as Tennyson turned the screw to the body. The away man was hurting but fought back well. Seconds later he returned to his haunches. Blood dripping from his nose, Neale was counted out at 3-05 by referee Hugh Russell Jnr, as Tennyson’s power proved the difference. “The Assassin” said afterwards that he felt
comfortable and strong just above the lightweight limit, claiming that plans to defend his Commonwealth super-feather belt could be shelved as a result.
“After losing the world title fight, I wanted to get back to winning ways,” said Tennyson. “We’ll see what comes up now. My ‘0’ went a while ago, so a loss now realistically doesn’t define my career – I’m still young.”
Feargal Mccrory and Karl Kelly met in the trenches for the vacant Irish lightweight strap before brave Kelly was stopped in the ninth (set for 10). Both men suffered cuts to their left eyes during a frantic second stanza that saw Feargal pile on the pressure. Despite having as many wins as losses, Dublin’s Kelly was as game as a badger; refusing to wilt under the breathless assaults of Coalisland’s Mccrory. Kelly’s corner team were imploring their man to move to his left, out of the way of Mccrory’s honey punch. Kelly was frequently tagging Feargal’s torso, but got caught when he swung upstairs. Mccrory’s fitness shone through in the later stages as Kelly took one too many blows against the ropes. Referee David Irving – who ended the fight at 2-21– kept a lid on matters in the stifling heat of battle. Paul Hyland Jnr was boxing to orders for the first half of his scrap with Czech slugger Miroslav Serban. That was until Serban found a home for the left hook. Dropped in a torrid fifth and put to work for the remainder of the contest, Hyland was made to grit his teeth and earn his win the hard way – 78-74. The Belfast man has an eye on a second crack at the British lightweight title, or the Commonwealth. John Lowey refereed.
Belfast cruiser Tommy Mccarthy limbered up for an early March assignment against the unbeaten Richard Riakporhe by defeating wily Czech veteran Jiri Svacina 80-72 on Mr Lowey’s reckoning. Svacina swaggered around the ring with his hands down for the most part. Mccarthy put his foot down in the final rounds, but was unable to force the visitor into submission.
Luke Wilton notched a shutout over Czech Patrik Bartos. Belfast’s “Winky” took home a 60-54 landslide from Mr Lowey, scoring for Eamonn Magill. Meanwhile, local Mathew Fitzsimons defeated Stockport’s Jamie Quinn 39-37 on Mr Russell’s scorecard. Mr Magill refereed. Elsewhere, referee Russell awarded Belfast’s Cathy Mcaleer a 40-36 success over Poland’s Sonia Klos.
THE VERDICT A move to lightweight could be beckoning for Tennyson.