DOUBLE CROWN
KYNOCH BOXING produced another high-quality event in Glasgow, featuring two very contrasting Scottish title fights at the top of the bill.
Regan Glackin started scoring with sharp shots from a variety of angles in the opening seconds of his lightweight challenge against fellow Glaswegian Ahmed Mweva, and this pattern was to continue for the duration of the fight. Mweva, former holder of the superlightweight belt, never stopped pushing forward but just could not deal with Glackin, who constantly changed from front to back foot and mixed between single shots and quick and varied combinations before spinning away and leaving Mweva out of position.
A shutout victory was awarded by referee Kevin Mcintyre, and Glacklin already looks a fighter levels above.
The welterweight title fight between Clydebank’s Alfie Poole and Liam Philip of Glasgow was an entirely different affair, with the latter winning by a single point. The opening two rounds could have gone either way as Poole, always on the advance, regularly became entangled with southpaw Philip, this resulting in referee Darren Maxwell having a stern word with both fighters at the close of the second. Both took heed, and for the remaining eight rounds the 24-year-old Poole continued his advance and constantly threw shots as Philip, 12 years Poole’s senior, took to counterpunching and fought almost the entirely on the back foot.
Poole struggled with his distance and had many of his shots blocked, but Philip’s economical counters almost always landed cleanly. A clash of heads opened a cut above Poole’s right eye in the fourth, but excellent corner work prevented this from worsening, and it looked like youth was in the ascendancy in the middle rounds as Philip seemed to grow fatigued. The Glaswegian, however, would not be denied and, showing terrific levels of resolve and fitness, came on strong in the closing rounds to win razor-thin 96-95 verdict.
Kieran Tarleton secured a win against Luke Fash as the ever-active Hull man grew closer to achieving his century. Tarleton showed very quick hands, employing combinations from body to head and back again as Fash provided him with valuable education by always making sure enough was coming back to keep him honest. Mr Mcintyre awarded a shutout verdict in favour of the Glaswegian.
Ticket-selling Rico Miranovic was matched against the ever-entertaining
Dale Arrowsmith for his debut and, while this was Miranovic’s party, Stockport’s Arrowsmith, although on the receiving end for most of the fight, sporadically went on the offensive and in the fourth caught Rico with a cracking straight right, quickly followed by a jarring jab, thus reminding ‘The Punjabi Prince’ to tighten up his defence in preparation for future contests. Mr Maxwell refereed.
Elliot O’donnell was also a clear winner, even scoring a knockdown in the final round of four, but the Airdrie fighter was taught the importance of defence by Manchester’s John Spencer. O’donnell threw crisp, hard shots throughout but was most effective at distance, as each time he got into close quarters, Spencer would remind him to keep his left hand up by clipping him with a right hook. It was a relatively easy night’s work for the Scot, with Mr Mcintyre scoring the contest 40-35 in his favour, but he will need to work on this habit if he wishes to successfully step up in class.
Belfast’s Lewis Crocker stalked Romania-based Moldovan Octavian Gratii over the entirety of the showopening six-rounder. Crocker has a mean streak and delivered a succession of vicious straight rights to the body of Gratii who, to his credit, arrived in great condition with no quit in him. From the second, Crocker, more accustomed to sterner opposition, used the bout as a training session and varied his output, pawing some jabs before jolting Gratii’s head back with others.
Perhaps sensing the Vaslui man was there for the taking, ‘The Croc’ opened the fifth with a counter left hook and chopping right hand, followed by a four-punch combination resulting in Mr Maxwell calling a knockdown, as only the ropes kept Gratii off the canvas. The visitor was teak-tough, however, weathering a torrid final round to finish on his feet.
THE VERDICT Glackin again proves he a talent to watch carefully.
Glackin gets to showcase his talents, but it’s a far harder night’s work for Philip, writes Charlie Tymon from ringside