AIMING HIGH
Smith and Matthews are now looking towards bigger things
MO PRIOR’S British Warrior Boxing promotion at Woodside Leisure Centre achieved what it set out to do, and that was to provide valuable rounds for his unbeaten fighters Jez Smith and Elliott
Matthews in a couple of six-rounders. Welterweight Jez, the younger brother of former English super-featherweight champion Mitchell Smith, is now eyeing a shot at Southern Area honours after seeing off Manchester’s Sam Omidi. Starting smartly, Jez caught Omidi regularly with overhand rights, and in the second another spiteful right decked Sam for an eight-count.
Jez, from nearby Harrow Weald, continued tattooing Omidi to body and head, but Sam, fresh off a rare win over Max Wicks last month, fought back over the last two, conceding a 60-54 decision via referee Lee Every.
Local Matthews entered the ring accompanied by two youngsters each holding aloft the belts he has won in the past – English and Southern Area middleweight. Like Smith, he also prevailed 60-54, this time on referee Robert Williams’ scorecard.
After a quiet opener, well-schooled southpaw Matthews slowly went through the gears, always keeping Lydney showman Lewis van Poetsch on the end of his trusty jab. Lewis bled from the nose from the fourth, and finished with a nick over his left eye. Matthews is now targeting a crack at the European strap up at super-middleweight.
The pick of the four-rounders saw wellsupported Fuaad Husseen overcome the exceptionally courageous Michael
Horabin. Refusing to be intimidated by Fuaad’s regal entrance and vocal fans, the fresh-faced Mottram-in-longendale lad had to soak up blistering attacks from the Southall prospect.
Husseen’s pressure finally caught up with Michael as he took an eight-count from Mr Every, the bell to end the third ringing shortly after he rose. A body shot had Horabin down again, but he bravely saw out ensuing attacks to last the distance. Two 10-8 rounds in favour of Husseen saw him trail 40-34 on the official scorecard.
Three 40-36 victories came the way of Slough’s John Brennan, Chard’s Watfordborn Paul Roberts and Tottenham’s
Jeffrey Ofori. Brennan had too much for Barcelona-based Nicaraguan Geiboord
Omier, who was having his 10th fight in a row in the UK. Constant pressure, overhand rights and classy uppercuts had Omier spoiling by the finish. Mr Every officiated. The all-action Ofori had too much for
Naheem Chaudhry. Although without a win in 16 bouts (all points defeats), this was a repeat of the Blackburn trier’s debut in October. Ofori showed good punch variety, always staying in range to let his shots fly. Mr Every refereed.
Sheffield’s Anwar Alfadli – cornered by EX-WBC super-lightweight champion Junior Witter – came flying out as the opening bell sounded to catch Roberts with a surprise right hand. Thereafter, Paul was treated to Alfadli’s unorthodox lean-back defence and wild-swinging swipes gleaned from training at the Ingle gym. Roberts’ more orthodox boxing was rewarded by referee Williams.
The evening’s only stoppage befell Lithuanian debutant Viktoras Razma at the hands of Nottingham-based Pole Sebastian Slusarczyk. Razma, formerly of Hayes ABC, was soon unsettled by Slusarczyk’s power. Razma was down for an eight-count via a leftright combination, and his legs were still shaking as referee Williams called a halt at 2-41 of the first round.
THE VERDICT Smith and Matthews tick over with routine wins.