DAMP SQUIB
Ennis-brown outpoints Rehman in an untidy battle of unbeatens
WITH both men boasting 12-0 records going in, much was expected of the main event of this MTK card at the Vale Sports Arena. Few, beyond the vociferous fans of Akeem Ennisbrown, will have been satisfied with the outcome. The Gloucester man claimed a wide unanimous decision – Martin Williams, Serge Hendrice and Luigi Baccardi all scored it 99-91 – over Rochdale’s unambitious Bilal Rehman. The 10-rounder was messy throughout, with referee Reece Carter earning his fee. Neither man found any rhythm, though “Riiddy” at least showed intent, while Rehman, cut by the left eye in the second, was usually the first to hold.
Fortunately, the decent St David’s Day crowd had something to cheer, with victories for some good Welsh prospects, Rhondda duo Alex Hughes and Rhys Edwards the most impressive. Maerdy man Hughes’ one-round blitz of Nicaraguan Wilmer González almost didn’t happen. There was a huge disparity on the scales at the previous day’s weighin, but with the unbeaten youngster keen to box, it was agreed to check again in the morning. Alex came back more than a stone heavier and the gap was now deemed acceptable.
Not good news for the paunchy visitor, however. As soon as Hughes landed a left to the midriff, González was on the deck. A repeat made Wilmer hover for a moment as if thinking about it, before subsiding and sitting out Chris Jones’ count at 2-04 of the first of a scheduled eight. “Bad News” has now won his last four in the opener.
Tonypandy teen Edwards showed good variety to demolish regular Nicaraguan visitor Elvis Guillén at 2-35 of the third of a planned four, Mr Williams intervening after he had been dropped by an uppercut. Guillén, now 35, had twice fallen head first as Rhys was turning him, his balance gone. Perhaps it’s time this Elvis left the building for good.
Two local belt-holders disappointed in six-rounders. Commonwealth fly king Jay Harris saw three opponents come and go before ending up back where he started when Evesham’s everwilling Brett Fidoe, the man Jay beat on his debut, took the job at 24 hours’ notice. Whether Swansea’s Harris was complacent or had simply lost his mojo during the week’s confusion, he struggled to come to grips with the slippery Fidoe, whose weight advantage may also have been a factor. Jay gradually settled to earn a 59-57 tally from Mr Carter, doing the sums for triallist Mr Jones.
The same combination oversaw recently crowned Welsh super-light boss Kieran Gething in action against 6ft 3in Spaniard Damián Esquisabel. The man from Santander was banking on his long left lead, but Pontypool prospect Gething managed to get inside and outwork him without ever really imposing himself, edging it 58-57.
Big-punching Jacob Robinson never seriously threatened Camberley’s Jonny Phillips, despite getting a 58-57 nod from Mr Williams. Phillips, an ex-whitecollar performer, was his lightest as a pro, but lasted the pace well, the Cardiffian’s greater composure proving decisive.
The other six-rounder proved a stroll for Kazakh Nurtas Azhbenov,
a dubious second-round knockdown of Plymouth trier Chris Adaway helping him to a 60-53 score for Mr Carter, again assisting Mr Jones. Azhbenov showed flashes of pure class, but mostly seemed happy to pose rather than punch.
The remaining bouts were over four, with Swansea 19-year-old Jacob Lovell catching the eye with a lastround stoppage of Plymouth-sudanese Mohamed Mahmoud, who was less than pleased with Mr Williams’ intervention at 1-50 and left the ring before the official announcement.
Mr Carter came up with 40-36 cards for Carmarthen’s improving Angelo Dragone over Nicaraguan Michael Carrero and (while Mr Jones did the legwork) local boy Maredudd Thomas
against Londoner Richard Samuels.
There was a little bit of history when the fourth Nicaraguan on show, José Aguilar, ended a 39-bout losing streak with a draw against David White Jnr.
All seemed normal for a round, but when the Central American came out for the next mimicking White’s southpaw stance, it seemed to disconcert the hometown boy. José duly went up several gears and looked unlucky to get no more than Mr Carter’s 38-38.
THE VERDICT The main course fails to live up to its billing, but the side dishes keep most customers happy.