SWEET CHARITY
Horn wins on a star-studded night, writes Philip Sharkey from ringside
GUESTS at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity dinner show were not only treated to a Frank Warren fourbout boxing card, but also a sing-along courtesy of Boxing Icon award recipient Tyson Fury. He belted out the old classic, American
Pie, and had the star-studded Hilton Hotel crowd, which included Peter Andre, ex-speaker John Bercow and former champions Charlie Magri, Maurice Hope, Colin Mcmillan, John Conteh, Billy Schwer and many more, singing along.
Harvey Horn showed his delight in winning his first 10-rounder with a comprehensive victory over previous Midlands Area flyweight champ Ijaz
Ahmed.
Always one punch and two steps ahead, the Chigwell southpaw moved skilfully in and out of range, using not only his feet, but also his hips to sway out of range from the bearded Brummie. Ijaz drove himself forward to nick a couple of rounds but could never keep Horn in his sights.
Marcus Mcdonnell refereed and judges Terry O’connor and Kieran Mccann agreed at 97-93, while Valerio Mosca scored a closer 96-94.
Three support bouts all ended inside the distance. Manchester prospect Jordan
Thompson opened up Hungarian lefty Istvan Orsos with jabs and an eye-catching bolo right had the veteran down. Mr Mccann waved it off at 1-23 of round three.
Two four-rounders completed proceedings.
Liverpool’s Nick Ball administered a pasting to Nicaraguan Johnson Tellez. Stocky roughhouse Ball had the Spainbased southpaw down in the first and under pressure on the ropes when Mr Mccann stepped in with 25 seconds left of round two. Sidcup-based Ukrainian Dorin
Krasmaru bagged his second insidethe-distance win when his first telling punch left West Bromwich’s unbeaten portsider Matt Gordon in a heap in his own corner in the opener.
Mr Mccann waved it off immediately and Gordon received oxygen, but happily left the ring unaided.
THE VERDICT Horn has the skills – hopefully his punch power will develop with Mark Tibbs’ guidance.