CRUISE CONTROL

Three predictable wins for the home corner, writes Dan Etchells

DAVID “JUNIOR” THOMPSON extended his unbeaten record with a convincing points win over Russia’s Vasif Mamedov in front of a home crowd at the Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool.

Thompson was in control throughout the contest, his first since December, and there was no surprise when referee Mark Lyson awarded him a 60-54 victory.

The 31-year-old middleweight now has five wins to his name, including two knockouts – one of which came in his last outing against another Russian, Vladimir Fleischhauer. Mamedov offered very little and was consistently stopped from holding by Lyson as he fell to a 17th defeat of his professional career.

Another home boxer maintaining a perfect record on the three-fight card presented by Black Flash Promotions was John Edwardson, who comfortably beat winless opponent John Spencer of Manchester. Edwardson drew blood from Spencer’s nose in the second round and eased to a 40-36 victory in the view of Lyson, who scored this one from ringside while trialist referee Dave Mulholland controlled matters inside the ropes. The 33-year-old super featherweight moves onto 2-0 having overcome Russia’s Rustem Fatkhullin on his debut in February.

The card’s one other bout saw Jack Dwyer, also from Liverpool, end his wait for a first professional win at the fourth time of asking. Dwyer looked cagey early on against Manchester’s Stephen Jackson, whose only previous win came via knockout on his debut in December 2020, but he steadily grew in confidence on his way to earning a 40-36 decision from Lyson (Mulholland refereed).

Victory for the “Baby-faced Assassin” comes on the back of three consecutive points losses and he will be looking to build momentum. Widnes’ Leon Willings and St Helens’ Adam Carberry had both been due to have the chance to extend their unbeaten records, but their scheduled opponents were unable to compete.