STACKED SHOW
Martin impresses on top of a marathon 14- ght card
SWINDON’S Ryan Martin captured an 80-74 victory over Lithuania’s Edvinas Puplauskas on Jeff Hinds’ card in headlining a Neilson Boxing show at the MECA. Martin delivered a rounded and mature performance that smoothly combined calculated attacks with some excellent defensive headwork and footwork. Ryan routinely slipped the jab and switched angles of approach to convincingly take each session.
In the first of two shutouts refereed by Lee Every, Bicester’s Scott James bested Poland’s Patryk Buczek 40-36. James delivered a good punch output as he claimed centre ring consistently to dictate the action. The visitor did well to return fire despite clearly coming second best.
Brighton’s ultra-sharp Harlem Eubank looked so quick and slick in getting a 60-54 success against Brierley Hill’s durable MJ Hall. Eubank effectively found a home for the straight right hand against his southpaw foe and often followed up with snapping left hooks.
Swindon’s Phil Williams was held to a 38-38 draw on Mr Every’s slate by Hungary’s Ferenc Zsalek in a slowpaced affair. The import came forward but was in sub-optimal shape. Williams scored with the right hand, but found his shots off-target regularly.
In the first of a quartet of fourrounders officiated by Mr Every, Westonsuper-mare-based Romanian Vladimir Georgiev won his debut against Lativia’s Kristaps Zulgis by 39-37. After getting caught with a thumping right in the opener, Zulgis was more elusive in the second. Georgiev, well-schooled as an amateur, looked both skilful and powerful over the second half of the contest.
Gloucester’s Max Mudway also kickstarted his paid career as he romped to an impressive 40-35 win over Lithuanian toughman Arvydas Trizno. Mudway was fast and clever as he set about the experienced Eastern European from the first bell. Max’s footwork impressively set up some blistering multi-phased attacks and kept Trizno in defensive mode. Arvydas was knocked through the ropes in the second and needed every second of his considerable experience to last the course.
Swindon’s Said Eltuyev won every round (40-36) against Southwark’s awkward Victor Edagha. Eltuyev pressed the fight and forced Victor to become less negative over the contest’s duration. Edagha turned and swayed away from attacks to try and stay out of the line of fire as Eltuyev accurately jabbed to head and body.
Sam Smith from Swindon returned to winning ways as he outpointed Latvia’s
Raimonds Sniedze by 39-37. Smith started each session well on the jab, but seemed to fade and get caught in range as each round progressed.
In the first of three bouts over four refereed by Mr Hinds, Farnborough’s
Andre Grant took a solid 40-37 decision over Caerphilly’s Robbie Forster. The Welshman took the second on my card and played his part, but Grant was the more assertive fighter.
Fleet’s Aaron Collins pipped Reading warhorse Ibrar Riyaz by 39-38. Riyaz marched in and attempted to walk Collins down. Aaron boxed largely on the back foot and fired straight right hands upstairs and downstairs.
In the evening’s only quick finish, Camberley’s Jonny Phillips stopped Leeds’ Russ Midgley at 1-53 of the first. A right hand separated Russ from his equilibrium and he was rocking around the ring under the weight of Phillips’ attack, before another right hand prompted the stoppage.
Witney’s Bradley Townsend looked razor-sharp and confident in overcoming Blackwood’s Paul Ducie by 59-55. Townsend switch-hit effectively and regularly beat Ducie to the punch. Paul walked in and looked to engage Bradley to stake his claim, but was a step behind throughout.
Exeter’s Harry Webb was upset by Cannock’s Lee Gunter as he dropped a 60-55 verdict. Gunter closed the gap well on the taller fighter and denied Webb the luxury of space or respite. Harry attempted to keep the battle at length, but Lee’s crowding and swarming, combined with his high punch output, proved a winning formula.
Swindon’s Bec Connolly lost to Livingstone’s Elaine Greenan by 40-36 over four-twos. Greenan exploited her advantages in height and reach to outwork the shorter Connolly and force her back with consistent two-fisted attacks. Mr Hinds officiated all three contests.
THE VERDICT Martin is ready to step up in class in 2019.