TOO EASY, JACK

Bateson far too good for this level of opposition, writes Jacob Kilbride

WHEN Jack Bateson won the English superbantamweight title in November, it was hoped that this Elland Road Pavilion bill would provide him with at least a first defence of the regional belt.

Earlier this month though, the ex-team GB amateur decided to vacate the title and, in Stefan Nicolae, found himself against opposition that may have been better suited to his professional debut some 16 fights ago.

From the off, it was clear that Bateson was superior in every department and a right-uppercut dropped the Romanian in the second round.

The eventual stoppage was delivered by referee Andy Brook at 2-05 of the third. Hopefully such a tick-over is just that for Bateson, who needs of a far more meaningful fight next.

There was better-matched action either side of the chief support on this Mark Bateson promotion as Leeds pair Mick Learmonth and Ishmael Davis won 60-54 decisions.

Ex-rugby league player Learmonth dropped Pole Michal Loniewski in the sixth with a straight left en route to the shutout from Brook. Despite having not boxed as an amateur, Davis showed remarkable craft to defeat Sheffield’s previously unbeaten Zane Clark on Darren Sarginson’s card.

Fellow Leeds talent Harry Fryer had a tricky night against the awkward Romanian Marian Marius Istrate but still won a 60-54 verdict from Sarginson.

The night began with a 40-36 win for Wakefield debutant Darren Smith over Russian Vladimir Fleischaur while Jack Bagnall (Leeds) triumphed 40-37 past Slovakian Pavol Garaj. Brook officiated both bouts.

Bognor Regis’ Carl Turney, defeated in all his previous 23 fights, picked up a 38-38 draw against Brodie Carroll of Leeds, with Sarginson the man in the middle.

FULL RESULTS

Mick Learmonth (177lbs 2oz), 12-0 (5), w pts 6 Michal Loniewski (181lbs 6oz), 3-2 (1); Jack Bateson (128lbs), 16-0 (4), w rsf 3 Stefan Nicolae (126lbs 8oz), 3-31-2 (1); Ishmael Davis (163lbs 2oz), 8-0 (2), w pts 6 Zane Clark (169lbs 9oz), 1-1; Harry Fryer (137lbs 6oz), 6-0 (1), w pts 6 Marian Marius Istrate (135lbs 6oz), 3-13; Jack Bagnall (167lbs 6oz), 2-0, w pts 4 Pavol Garaj (165lbs 8oz), 7-29-3 (2); Brodie Carroll (160lbs 2oz), 1-0-1, d pts 4 Carl Turney (157lbs 1oz), 0-23-1; Darren Smith (150lbs 4oz), w pts 4 Vladimir Fleischaur (153lbs 6oz), 1-15.