COLIN WINS THE DAY
Local Mcguinness is stopped in an action-packed clash
WITH just one loss between them and title aspirations alike, the top-of-the-bill eight-round lightweight contest on this VIP promotion at the Olympia between Skelmersdale’s Colin Day and Liverpool’s
Tom Mcguinness had always promised to be an exciting main event – and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Unbeaten in seven pro bouts, Mcguinness – with advantages in height and reach – looked to work patiently behind his jab, but Day – more compact and evidently in much more of a hurry – never let the taller man settle. Even though both landed some good shots in the opening two rounds, it was Day who quickly raced into an early lead as the local seemed to be dragged into a fight his style rarely suited.
To the delight and roar of the crowd, both fighters had periods of success in the next few frames – sometimes standing toe to toe – but Day looked the more impressive, finishing the fourth particularly strongly, before cleverly slipping away after being caught on the ropes in the fifth to land two great shots himself.
Although they understandably tired in the seventh, Day’s pressure finally told as he dropped his rival for a count of ‘eight’ halfway through the round. Mcguinness’ task was made even harder as he was docked a point for holding soon after. It was at this point, with little coming back, that referee Darren Sarginson waved it over with just four seconds of the session remaining.
Ruthin’s Sion Yaxley opened the night’s proceedings with a solid points win over Stourbridge’s experienced Kevin Mccauley. Referee Jamie Kirkpatrick scored 40-36. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s James Farrell looked impressive – and ready for a step up – as he stopped tall Lithuanian Imantas Davidaitis in a scheduled four-rounder. Giving away height and reach, Farrell boxed cleverly inside. The end came just 17 seconds into round two when a right to the body was followed by a left hook to the head that sent the visitor down in two stages, before Mr Kirkpatrick waved it over.
Pretty much everyone in the arena looked puzzled when Mr Sarginson gave Birmingham’s Ben Fields a 39-38 decision over local debutant Jamie Collins. Although slowing a little by the third round, Collins looked to have done enough to warrant a reverse of the scoring in his favour.
Warrington’s Mike Mckay almost halted Czech Republic’s Ivo Zednicek
at the end of their contest, but the bell saved the visitor and he had to make do with a 40-36 points victory from Mr Kirkpatrick. Busy from the start, Mckay landed some good, fast combinations throughout.
Former Isle of Man amateur standout,
Matthew Rennie, marked his pro debut with a stylish 40-36 win over Glasgow’s
Gary Mcguire. Now based in Liverpool, the Manx man was never in trouble. Mr Sarginson refereed.
In an enjoyable clash, Liverpool superlightweight Luke Willis showcased his full repertoire as he outboxed and outfoxed Newark’s seasoned Fonz Alexander. Efficient and patient, with fast hands and good shot selection, Willis has yet to drop a round in nine pro bouts and is ready to move up the rankings in a hot division. Mr Kirkpatrick scored 60-54.
Evesham’s experienced Brett Fidoe
had won his previous three to edge to 12 wins from 65 contests ahead of his meeting with Liverpool’s Sean Cairns,
and “The Threat” proved to be just that again as he took a deserved 39-38 decision over the local. Cairns did little in the first two sessions, allowing Fidoe to gain confidence and momentum as he did enough to get the nod from Mr Sarginson.
If the crowd were shocked at that result then it was little compared to what followed as Birkenhead’s former Commonwealth lightweight champion,
Sean “Masher” Dodd, dropped a six-round verdict to Sunderland’s muchtravelled Jordan Ellison. In a scrappy and often attritional affair, Dodd improved as the rounds wore on, but he acknowledged to ringside after the final bell that the contest was closer than many thought. He was proved correct as Mr Kirkpatrick scored Ellison a 59-57 winner.
THE VERDICT Day and Mcguinness end an entertaining show in spectacular fashion.