Brothers in arms in winning pro debuts
MACKWORTH’S Morgan brothers both made winning professional debuts on a Shinfields promotion at the Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham.
There were also victories to mark their first fights in the paid ranks for Lianne Bush of Leabrooks and for Derby’s Don Itutu.
Itutu was first up in a four-rounder at super-welterweight against journeyman Dale Arrowsmith, who was fresh from spoiling another young starter’s debut a few days earlier.
Itutu did not have it all his own way but took a 39-37 points verdict.
The older of the Morgan brothers, Jake, took on Luke Merryfield at super-bantamweight and started the contest behind a fast quality jab, staying on top with hooks to his opponent’s body to win all four rounds.
Bush faced a testing six-rounder at featherweight against Scotlandbased Greek Eftychia Kathopouli, who had won four of her five pro contests.
It was Kathopouli who came out the corner fast, looking to stamp her name on the bout, but Bush quickly adjusted and landed the better straight crisp shots, causing a cut to take the victory 59-56.
Frazer Morgan also stepped straight into six rounds for his superflyweight debut, against 28-year-old Stephen Jackson, who stopped Sam Cantwell on his TV debut in December but had lost his three subsequent fights.
The first two rounds were good from Morgan but Jackson came back at him in rounds three and four. They shared a close fifth round but it was Morgan who bit down on his mouth piece and took the final round for a 58-57 points victory.