BRAY VICTORIOUS AGAIN

Kirk will seek a rematch once his injured thumb is sorted, writes Andy Whittle

HAVING outpointed previously unbeaten Jack Roberts just a couple of weeks earlier Yorkshireman

Jake Bray repeated his winning feat against home opposition when at the conclusion of a four against Owen Kirk at Blackpool Winter Gardens, he took the 39-37 decision of referee Jamie Kirkpatrick.

Heysham’s Kirk [inset], after making a decent enough start, picked up some damage to the right thumb before the first round was out and his mood wasn’t helped when he fell victim to a low blow in the very next session.

The Stainforth puncher though was growing in confidence and having absorbed a smattering of pressure in the penultimate session he began to let his shots go in the last with a weighty combination upstairs and a looping left being the best of his work.

Local favourite Tyrone Bowen-price, improving with every bout, was awarded all four rounds by referee Steve Gray at the end of his four rounder against

Blackburn journeyman Naeem Ali who, throwing precious little of note, kept it tight as the southpaw home boxer worked the body in an attempt to bring his hands down. Back in the ring for the first time in seven months Blackpool welter Jake Abrol, an early winner on his debut, was taken the distance in a learning fight by Russian Rustem Fatkhullin who after a promising start to his career back in his homeland seems to have settled into the chasing money in the UK role favoured by so many of his countrymen. Rustem hadn’t been stopped in 17 previous British outings and he hadn’t won a single round either so no prizes for guessing the score of this one. Fleetwood’s Steve Gray refereed.

There was a shut-out four round success too down at bantamweight when Liverpool’s Brandon Daord, who had stopped his last three, proved too much for Birmingham’s game Reiss Taylor in a bout overseen by Mr Kirkpatrick.