HAPPY RETURN!

Simon Euan-smith sees popular Mickey O’rourke come back with a win

OUT since December 2015, Feltham’s Michael O’rourke clearly outscored Oldbury’s Jahfieus Faure at York Hall. Referee Lee Every (officiating throughout) handed O’rourke a 39-37 verdict after a very watchable four-rounder. O’rourke really took control in the second half, but Faure always looked to hit back, and was battling up to the end. It was O’rourke’s seventh straight win.

Five more four-rounders completed this Goodwin Promotions bill.

Bradley Spencer (Bedfont) also extended his 100 per cent record (to six) via a 39-37 win over Islington’s Jordan Grannum (taking part in his 90th bout). Spencer kept the jabs coming, at times switching to southpaw, while Grannum pressed forward but couldn’t match Spencer’s workrate. It was Spencer’s first outing since July 2019.

Canterbury’s Brandan Olbrechts used his height and reach advantages to post a 40-36 win over Camden’s Lee Devine. Devine tried to keep his distance but Olbrechts landed effectively to the body in the last to wrap up a convincing win.

The show began with an all-action women’s four-twos, which saw Amersham’s Juliette Horwood make a winning debut via a 39-37 win over gutsy southpaw Beccy Ferguson (Stoke-on-trent). Ferguson hit back gamely whenever she was caught, and this was definitely the fight of the night. Two other debutants won, with Barking’s Dennis Douglas beating Charlie Sheldon (Bury St Edmunds) by 39-37 and Ealing’s Pat Gill taking a 40-37 verdict over Chichesterbased Zambian Mwenya Chisanga. Douglas’ aim was to keep things long, but Sheldon got close and unloaded effectively, with Douglas that shade more accurate. Southpaw Chisanga tried to keep his distance and counter, but tended to fall short – and the effective work generally came from Gill. A big right to the head had Chisanga holding on in the last.