PERFECT GOODBYE

Former British champ enjoys his final outing, writes Ashley Ball

JOSH WALE brought the curtain down on a 15-year career victorious and on his own promotional bill.

The former British bantamweight champion, who made two successful defences before a European title challenge, has moved into the business side of the sport as a promoter and manager but wanted one final outing after the pandemic. Lithuanian Simas Volosinas was on a hiding to nothing against the popular Barnsley man, who displayed a bit of everything at the Metrodome. There was boxing, the characteristic body shots and also some rapid flurries from Wale as he claimed victory 40-36 in the view of referee John Latham.

The baton has now been officially handed to younger brother

Dempsey Wale and the novice pro continues to improve. Dempsey inflicted a fair amount of damage in a shutout win, refereed by Mark Lyson, against Mancunian

John Spencer.

Mr Lyson oversaw the same score go the way of Doncaster’s

Bradley Cousins against Middleton’s Ryan Hibbert. The

Yorkshireman used his height to negotiate his way past the sturdy away man. Two home men suffered defeat with Rotherham’s Redwan Nishat

taken out with 2-17 gone in round three against Rochdale’s Richard Helm. Nishat was floored twice in the round before Mr Latham called an end to the bout. It was far from premature, with Nishat all at sea from a hook and then a short right hand. Billy Allen, from Barnsley, could have perhaps felt more harshly treated as he saw Middleton’s Dean Wilkinson’s

hand raised with a 39-38 verdict from Mr Lyson. It had been a scrappy contest which could have gone either way.

Paul Scaife got his first win as a pro, beating Jake Bray from Stainforth 40-36 in Mr Latham’s view. Mosborough’s Scaife was always the aggressor and got through a fairly even first round to win comfortably.

THE VERDICT A last farewell as Wale moves on from competing.