BAD LUCK STRIKES
Promoter Steve Wood again forced to work miracles to keep show alive, writes Jacob Kilbride
PROMOTER Steve Wood is struggling for luck at Leeds’ Royal Armouries Museum. Back in November, fights for former domestic champions Bob Ajisafe and Reece Mould were among five bouts to drop off the bill, with an entertaining last-minute exhibition between gymmates Josh Warrington and Maxi Hughes saving the show.
While no such extremities were needed this time around, the scheduled main event – a vacant Central Area bantamweight title fight between Zahid Hussain and Razaq Najib – fell through due to a medical issue for the latter.
In their stead, Barnsley lightheavyweight Callum Simpson seized his chance as the headline act by delivering a comprehensive first-round stoppage over Ghanian Michael Osmanu Osunia.
A pre-fight record of 11 wins from 13 fights belied the African’s ability, as an early right uppercut saw Osunia completely losing his footing before falling to the canvas. Just as the bell sounded, the classy Simpson ended the one-sided match-up with an almost throw-away uppercut that dropped Osunia again and led to Andy Brook waving the fight off at 3-00.
Fellow light-heavy Mali Wright suffered an early blemish to his record as the Leeds prospect could only draw 38-38 with Sheffield debutant
Luis Palmer. Wright was too easy to hit through the first two rounds and although he finished strongly, there were few complaints to Darren Sarginson’s card.
Jake Goodwin, also of Leeds, had no such issues in a professional win over Islington veteran Jordan Grannum.
Hull’s Hashim Rehman was the evening’s stand-out fighter as he dominantly outworked the remarkably durable Lee Devine of Camden. Brook scored both bouts 40-36.
Josh Hargreaves of Batley and Levi Smith of Doncaster claimed 40-36 verdicts from Sarginson over Sheffield’s Karl Sampson and Spaniard Adan Martinez respectively.
THE VERDICT Simpson looks classy in one- sided win.