2-1 TO SHINKWIN
New English titlist wins rubber match against old foe Mcintyre
MILES SHINKWIN beat old rival Joel Mcintyre to take the vacant English lightheavyweight title at York Hall (Goodwin Boxing). Shinkwin (Bushey) was declared a unanimous winner by scores of 99-91, 96-94 and 97-93. Before giving the verdict, the MC announced that referee Terry O’connor wanted a round of applause for both boxers after a great contest. I didn’t see it like that. This was their third meeting, all going to 10-round verdicts – and maybe they knew each other too well. At any rate there were no real highlights, with a lot of posing and feinting.
There was drama, with both suffering damage to the left eye – Shinkwin in the sixth, from a clash of heads, Mcintyre (Portsmouth) in the seventh. At the start of the eighth, Mr O’connor halted the action, so the doctor could examine Shinkwin – there was now an ugly ridge of flesh over the eye. But he was allowed to go on, and the bout duly went the distance. Mcintyre has subsequently announced his retirement from the sport.
Southpaw Deion Jumah (Chelsea) won the vacant Southern Area cruiserweight belt, flooring and halting Willesden’s
Ossie Jervier in the fifth. A right to the side of the head dropped Jervier by the ropes. Jumah followed up quickly, with a left-right putting Jervier down again. He was up fast, but referee Robert Williams completed the compulsory count, took a careful look and waved it off at 2-08.
Ricky Little (Southampton) grabbed the vacant Southern Area super-flyweight strap with a sparkling win over Greenford’s
Jack Hughes, referee Kieran Mccann scoring 96-94. Though they weighed the same, Hughes looked much bigger, but Little took the early initiative, scoring with rights in the first two sessions. After that Hughes started to make his reach advantage tell, and landed well at long range. There were some good exchanges, and both were marked up at the finish.
Youssef Khoumari (Wembley) halted Portsmouth’s Dave Birmingham after 1-16 of the sixth and final round. The end was sudden. Birmingham pressed, Khoumari countered, and then Khoumari strayed low and referee Mark Bates gave Birmingham time to recover. When they resumed Birmingham went on the attack, but Khoumari hit back, and Mr Bates called it off with Birmingham taking stick on the ropes. Birmingham gave it a good try, always pressing forward, but Khoumari stayed cool, moved well and scored with counters.
Chris Davies (Richmond) knocked out Hungary’s Attila Tibor Nagy in the first of a scheduled six, but only after being decked himself. Nagy’s early attack caught Davies by surprise and he went down, taking the full eight-count. He held on, then two rights had Nagy holding. A Davies assault had Nagy in trouble on the ropes and eventually he dropped to one knee. The bell rang during referee Mccann’s count – Nagy shook his head disconsolately and was duly counted out after 3-08. Ellis Zorro (Hayes) beat Hungary’s
Krisztian Harangi at 1-45 of a slated four. Harangi came out fast but Zorro started countering. Harangi was quickly cut under the right eye, had a bump under the left eye, and bled from the nose. Harangi covered up in his own corner but two body shots sent him down. Referee Bates waved it off, and it was announced as a technical count-out. Harangi was given oxygen.
Anelle Massey (Minster) had a tough debut against Lithuanian Vaida
Masiokaite, who always looked to counter as Massey came forward. After four lively two-minute rounds, Mr Mccann declared a 38-38 draw.
Denis Denikajev, a Lithuanian based in North London, outpointed Lee Hallett (Canning Town), referee Williams scoring 40-35. Hallett was floored in the third. Meanwhile, Luton’s Linus Udofia shut out Slovakia’s Michal Gazdik, Mr Bates scoring 80-72.
Romford’s Mark Little edged Lithuania’s Dmitrij Kalinovskij by 58-57 (Mr Bates), while Silvertown’s Daveiel
Mendes defeated Remigijus Ziausys – another Lithuanian – by 60-53 (Mr Williams). Mr Mccann scored for Robbie Chapman (Camden Town) over Lydney’s Lewis van Poestch by 40-36, and for Ricky Heavens (Hayes) against
Southwark-italian Victor Edagha by 39-38. Mr Bates marked in favour of Jonathan Palata (Sydenham) against Slovakia’s Michal Lukacik by 40-36, and for Jerome Campbell (Kingsbury) versus Kingsteignton’s Jamie Speight by 40-37. Elsewhere, Mr Williams had London-based Sicilian Antonio Bevilacqua beating Cardiff’s Rhys Saunders by 39-37.
THE VERDICT Maybe Shinkwin and Mcintyre know each other too well now.