MASTER MICHAEL
Mckinson outboxes Kelly to retain Silver strap
IN the main event at the Brentwood Centre, Portsmouth welterweight Michael
Mckinson successfully defended his WBC International Silver title against Birmingham challenger Ryan Kelly with a unanimous 10-round decision on the judges’ scorecards (99-90, 97-92, 97-93).
Kelly did well to survive a fast start by the champion and a second-round knockdown to come on strong in the fourth and fifth with well-timed right uppercuts and bursts of pressure.
Mckinson regained control shortly after, as he kept the fight long and worked his left hand well in the final stages. In the first title fight of the evening
Mikey Sakyi from Romford made easy work of Southend’s Idris Hill to retain his Southern Area super-lightweight strap with an emphatic first-round stoppage.
Sakyi landed two massive right hands to knock Hill to the canvas, at which referee Lee Cook believed him to be in no position to continue, calling the fight off 1-26 into the opener. It was set for 10. Bexley super-welterweight Shaquille
Day really showed his improvement with a classy points victory over Mexico’s
Fernando Valencia. Day displayed a smart defence with beautifully timed right hands to take the fight 79-73 on Mccann’s slate.
Back in the ring after eight months, Irish lightweight Stephen Ormond opened the show with slick hooks to the body and a digging right uppercut to outpoint Nicaraguan Oscar Amador on referee Kieran Mccann’s scorecard by 40-36 over four rounds.
With Ben Davison heading his corner, Lancashire featherweight Isaac Lowe controlled the distance and overpowered Nicaraguan Brayan Mairena with welltimed right hands and sharp footwork over six rounds to win comfortably by 60-54 on referee Lee Cook’s slate. Hornchurch super-welterweight Harley
Benn extended his unbeaten record with a dominant points win over Nicaragua’s
Geiboord Omier. The left hook-right hand landed with ease for Benn, who controlled throughout and picked his shots well, especially in the fourth. Omier failed to make it much of a contest, reflected in Mccann’s 40-36 score. Isle of Sheppey super-lightweight
Martin Mcdonagh cruised through six rounds against Blackburn’s Naheem
Chaudhry. He displayed sharp jabs in the opening round and settled into the fight, connecting with the left hand well in the fourth. Mcdonagh took the fight comfortably by 60-54 for Mr Cook.
Dutch middleweight Gino Kanters looked impressive and displayed a powerful left hook that sent Nicaragua’s Nelson
Altamiranoto the canvas twice, in the first and second rounds. The Central American did well to see the final bell under the force of Kanters, whose solid workrate earned him a 60-52 verdict from referee Mccann.
Essex super-welterweight Kaan Hawes battled Bolton’s Chris Jenkinson with solid work on the inside. Jenkinson landed a counter right well but Mccann scored the four 39-37 in favour of Hawes.
Sidcup lightweight Dan Carr and Norfolk’s Scott Moises could not be separated with their six-rounder finishing 57 points apiece according to Mccann. Carr had success in the early rounds, digging hooks into the head and body. But as the rounds wore on Moises stopped Carr from working on the inside. Chessington welterweight Daniel
Egbunike secured a powerful secondround knockout against Hungary’s Janos
Andras Vass. The end came 44 seconds into the second round after a big right hand followed by a flurry sent Vass to the canvas and he failed to make referee Cook’s count. Hornchurch super-welterweight
Mitchell Frearson did well to overcome a big second-round, right-hand knockdown against Oxfordshire’s Scott James to secure a 57-57 draw after six according to referee Lee Cook. Frearson came back strong with straight shots and regained composure to maintain his unbeaten record.
In two fours that ended 40-36 on referee Cook’s card, light-heavyweight Danny Dignum from Essex beat Cambridge’s
Gianni Antoh while middleweight James Hawley (Bromley) secured his second professional win with a slick performance over Norwich’s Duane Green.
In the final fight of the night Portsmouth lightweight Lucas Ballingall made easy work of Nicaraguan Jose Hernandez with Mr Mccann scoring the four-rounder 40-36.
THE VERDICT The main event didn’t disappoint and Mckinson retained his crown.