GODDARD’S HAT-TRICK

James Hernandez sees local Liam advance to 3-0 as a pro

LIAM GODDARD made it three wins from three on home turf on Andy Ayling/mervyn Turner’s dinner show at the Norwich Airport Holiday Inn. He looked a cut above Lincoln’s

Sergio Gugliotta with his measured and timely attacks. Straight off the bat, Goddard worked well from behind his piston-like jab. Gugliotta, to his credit, defended himself with a high guard and was game throughout. His moment of success came in the second round, when he caught his fellow southpaw clean with a straight left down the pipe. Undeterred, the Norwich man upped the ante over the remaining rounds, thanks largely to better lateral movement.

Goddard boxed well on the inside and landed spiteful right and left hooks to the body, which enabled him to run out a clear points winner (40-36) for referee-for-the-night Lee Every. Goddard’s trainer, Graham Everett, said afterward: “I thought Liam was very sharp and moved well. It was a good learning fight for him. We’ll look to have one more fight over four rounds before moving up to six.”

Serving paratrooper Connor Vian was also a points winner (39-37), although he didn’t have everything his own way against Peterborough-based Latvian Kristaps Zulgis. Vian, of Croydon, felt every bit of a rasping left early on in the opening round from Zulgis. Vian never really got his jab going, but got the better of some tasty exchanges in a lively encounter.

Local fighter Owen Blunden stopped Barking’s Reece Smith at 2-36 of the first round (set for four). Blunden set his man up for the finish with a sweet left jab and right hand, before a flurry of punches sent Smith to the canvas. Although he was up by ‘nine’, referee Every called off the count, with Smith shaking his head as if to say “no more”.