MICKEY’S A TON-UP BOY

Philip Sharkey reports from ringside on Helliet’s landmark 100th show

THE champagne corks were popping and the whiskey glasses clinking as Mickey Helliet celebrated his 100th promotion, as well as the recent birth of his first child, at his annual Burns Night dinner show at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel. A trio of four-rounders was the fare on offer for the black-tie diners. In his 25th bout, Dylan Draper recorded his first victory. It was nip and tuck all the way, as Draper’s willing opponent, Naheem

Chaudhry (Blackburn), also saw this as an opportunity to nick a rare win. With a combined 59 losses between them going in – all but one on points – it predictably went the distance. The Braintree battler had his arm raised at the end by referee-for-the-evening Jeff Hinds, who tallied 39-38 in his favour.

Despite picking up a nick over his left eye, Austria-born Reading resident Konrad

Stempkowski eased himself back into the win column by comprehensively outboxing Eastbourne trier Scott Hillman. Stempkowski bested him 60-55 back in October 2017, but this time Hillman didn’t get to share a round, going down 40-36. Travelling up from Swansea, the lively Brad

Price, who outpointed the aforementioned Draper on his debut in November, claimed his second victory. Price was, however, told off a couple of times by Mr Hinds for hitting on the break and pushing MJ Hall off as the Brierley Hill southpaw tried to get in close and shorten the range. With his nose leaking blood from the second round onwards, Hall did pretty well to come away with a share of one session. The final score was 40-37.