A CUT ABOVE
Winters and Mcginley produce a a top-class top-class Area Area title title ght ght
BRISTOL’S Duane Winters successfully defended his Southern Area superbantamweight strap in headlining a Stuart Davies promotion at the Winter Gardens Pavilion. A badly cut left eye forced the doctor to pull out Chelmsford’s spirited
Tom Mcginley at the start of the 10th and final frame. For nine rounds, the pair engaged in a tremendous back-and-forth contest. Winters’ work was a little tighter and more accurate, but Mcginley’s surging attacks regularly gave him the momentum. Duane’s composure under fire was impressive – he would regularly navigate Tom’s combinations before slotting in wellpicked replies. Kieran Mccann officiated.
The six-rounder – refereed by Mark Bates – between Yeovil’s Dean Dodge and Telford’s Dean Jones was also curtailed by the doctor at the start of the last session, due to a laceration on Jones’ left eye. Dodge’s body punching was hurtful and consistent as he battered his opponent’s midriff. Jones needed all of his toughness to keep the contest competitive, despite taxing fourth and fifth rounds.
In the first of three four-rounders refereed by Mr Bates, Bulgaria’s Vladimir Georgiev bested Islington’s Jordan Grannum by 40-37. Georgiev has a flashy and educated skillset, but Grannum had him tiring at the close. Bristol’s Omar
Mckayle dropped an exciting 39-38 decision to Stockport’s huge Chris
Healey. The shorter Mckayle launched heavy hooks, yet Healey was more effective with cleaner, straighter punches. Chard’s Paul Roberts was outpointed 39-37 by strong Georgian Khvicha
Gigolashvili. Roberts’ work was organised and sharp, but he lacked the physicality and power to keep Gigolashvili off him.
Witney’s rounded Bradley Townsend used patience and fitness to shut out Warminster’s Paul Cummings by 40-36, while Exeter’s Harry Webb bounced back from his first loss to take a 39-37 verdict over Brierley Hill’s MJ Hall. Webb stayed calm when cut in the last. Mr Mccann officiated both.
THE VERDICT Winters versus Commonwealth champ Ashley Lane would be an excellent Bristol derby.