TAJ ON TOP
Simon Euan-smith sees local favourite halt fellow-unbeaten Taylor in a round
CRUISER Anees Taj delighted his local fans by halting Darwen’s Stevie Taylor in the first of a scheduled four at a packed Watford Leisure Centre Woodside.
Taylor had won seven straight (three inside) but Taj was quickly on him and forcing him to cover up on the ropes. Taylor took more stick in a neutral corner, got away, and tried to hit back when forced against the ropes again – but a big right to the head convinced referee Mark Bates to make a well-judged stoppage after 2-52.
It was Taj’s fifth straight win, fourth inside-schedule and third in the first round.
Hitchin’s Tom Ansell also won quickly, his scheduled four with Plymouth’s Darren Townley lasting just 2-29.
Townley was soon covering up on the ropes as Ansell banged in right uppercuts. With Ansell well on top, referee Chas Coakley signalled the end.
Debutant Ollie Duffy (Tottenham) survived a large swelling on the left eyelid to dominated Russia’s Rustem Fatkhullin and take referee Bates’ 40-36 verdict after four.
Fellow-debutant Tysie Gallagher (Luton) dropped Madrid’s Vanesa Caballero with a right to the head in the second and took Mr Coakley’s 59-54 verdict after six-twos.
Londoner Liz Barker had a tougher debut, and I thought her lucky to get referee Bates’ 39-38 verdict over Poland’s Karina Kopinska over four-twos.
It was Kopinska’s 10th loss in 10 appearances in Britain (she faced Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron in their debuts) but she took the fight to Barker from the outset, denying her space to hit back. Barker had a decent third but Kopinska seemed back on top in the last, with Barker looking tired.
Debutant Frankie Storey was cut by the left eye in the opener, but floored fellow-southpaw Stanislav Bilohurov (Ukraine) in the third, with a right, and took referee Bates’ 40-35 verdict over four.
In other fours, Mr Coakley had Northampton’s Connor Downs beating Bradford’s Jake Pollard by 40-36 and Slavisa Gegic (Croatia/islington) beating Russia’s Evgenii Vazem by 40-37.
Boxing Management London promoted.
THE VERDICT Fans go home happy after busy event in Watford.