BEST IN THE WEST
High praise for 23-year-old Ursu following latest win, writes Philip Sharkey from ringside
PLYMOUTH
APRIL 1
★★★★★ WHOLE SHOW ★★★★★ ATMOSPHERE
PROMOTOR Jack Green, of Greenstar Promotions, is convinced he has a world champion in the making on his books. That man, Constantin Ursu, effortlessly brushed aside Matthew King with one second remaining of round three.
He’s certainly jumping the hurdles in style, and, on Saturday night, he gained the vacant Southern Area welterweight title in the process. Now unbeaten in eight, the transplanted Moldova-born Plymouth resident, still only 23 years old, was helped along as Matt moved forward bravely, although square on to Ursu’s southpaw left, one of which landed on his temple, resulting in a wobble. Followup body shots floored the outclassed Southampton battler, who tottered back towards his corner after the eight count. Referee Lee Every had a good look at him before calling a halt to proceedings.
A hero’s welcome heralded the return to the south west for ‘Newquay Bomb’
Brad Pauls after his English title tilt loss to Tyler Denny in February. Though guilty of being too eager ‘bomb’ out Polish visitor Patryk Polosik, he didn’t drop a round on Mark Bate’s score pad, winning by a 60-54 margin as Polosik fiddled his way to the end.
Bideford’s unbeaten Billy Stanbury did find the punches to claim a stoppage, his southpaw rights both dropping Leicestershire’s George Rogers and convincing Mr Every to terminate the contest following an eight count. It was all over at 1-16 of round two.
The same arbiter noted identical 39-37 wins for Bradley O’connor and Exeter’s
Harry Webb. Hometown box-fighter O’connor relished getting stuck into a regular visitor to UK rings; Nicaragua born Christian Narvaez. The now Venice-domiciled Narvaez soon found it was better to engage in a firefight rather than pull up the covers and was rewarded with winning a round.
The well-supported Webb, meanwhile, had to contend with an 11-pound weight disadvantage, which he overcame by leading the action more often than Islington’s Jordan Grannum.
Chalk Farm’s ‘Camden Caretaker’,
Robbie Chapman, lost to the aforementioned Brad Pauls at this venue for the Southern Area middleweight crown back in 2019 and had a satisfying return as he left with a draw, 38-38, tallied by referee Mark Bates against Penzance trier Dylan Courtney, whose cause was not helped losing his gumshield on three occasions. Like Grannum, Robbie is the consummate pro journeyman; just watch how he makes his way back to their corner a few seconds before the end of the round, leaving his opponent a walk across the canvas to take the one-minute rest.
Two unbeaten Ocean City favorites recorded 59-55 verdicts over Spainbased Nicaraguans. Lewis Everson let his jab lead the way in his tussle with
Berman Sanchez, who tried his best to stay close and nullify Everson’s work. Closing in on a century of bouts, veteran
Reynaldo Cajina engaged in a very low key six-rounder with Polish born, locally based Maciej Jozwik.
Port Talbot debutant Aaron Bird kicked off his pro career with a bright and breezy 40-36 win against Poland’s
Krzysztof Stawiarski and, in the show opener, Mertys Rowan comfortably notched the same score over reliable
Michael Mooney (Worcester). Mr Bates was in charge of both contests.