THE SEASIDERS

Some local talent shines in Blackpool as promoter Steve Wood gets busy

JUST five weeks had elapsed since the Winter Gardens hosted boxing for the first time since 2017 but with promoter Steve Wood anxious to get back to one of his favourite venues there was a quick return. Six unbeaten youngsters, a couple of them popular local lads, were given the chance to bank a little more ring time and further their fistic education in the process.

Things went pretty much to plan in front of an appreciative crowd with not a single round dropped throughout.

Adam Little-trained Blackpool puncher Tyrone Bowen-price improved to 4-0 by shutting out Gerona-based Nicaraguan Josue Bendana in a four refereed by Steve Gray, turning in probably his best performance to date, though he was forced to work more off the jab in the latter stages after damaging his left hand late in the second.

Another popular local favourite, and another whose dad graced the pro ranks, is Jake Abrol and in another bout overseen by Fleetwood referee Mr Gray he emerged victorious by the same 40-36 score-line, backing up Estonian Dmitri Protkunas from the outset and proceeding to hand him a first career defeat.

A third bout with Steve Gray the man in the middle, between two-fight Salford novice Lerone Harrison and Mancunian John Spencer ended 40-36 as well, Jamie Moore’s switch-hitting charge claiming the spoils at the conclusion of a free-flowing affair with precious little by way of spoiling or holding.

Preston’s Jamie Kirkpatrick was in charge of the three remaining contests and awarded 40-37 victories to both Paddy Lacey (Chester) and Johnny Kiely (St Helens) in respective bouts against Stainforth’s tough Jake Bray and Harworth’s former Central Area champ Josh Morgan, while in the only six-rounder of the evening Wigan prospect Joe Howarth eased to a 60-54 win over Russia’s experienced Rustem Fatkhullin.