Clydebank’s Blitz by Tom Walker Dec 3rd 2006

Boxing “blitzed” back into Clydebank after an absence of 57 years with Chris Gilmour's sell-out show in the town's leisure centre the “Play Drome”. Fortunately this time the only “Bombs” were those thrown by the boxers on this sparkling little bill. The last professional boxer to feature on that 1949 show was Richard “Skeets” Gallagher a noted amateur and professional flyweight who despite his 81 years looked remarkably fit and healthy as the guest of honour at the show. “Skeets” got his nickname from an old movie star who had the same name Richard Gallagher, and the sobriquet has stuck with him. Clear memories for “Skeets” was his debut in which he was alone with his preparation for his bout, when an older pugilist offered him help with his bandages, the boxer concerned was none other than Benny Lynch. “Skeets” was introduced to the crowd before the top of the bill with local boy Gary McArthur and Frederic Gosset and the welcome he got was tribute indeed for the quiet unassuming gentleman of the ring. The five bout show got underway with; Brian Murphy (Cambuslang) 9st 7lb vs Sandy Bartlett (Inverness) 9st 3lb Ref V Loughlin 6 x 2mins After a cautious opener with some tidy counters from Murphy to the single shots of Bartlett, who'd only just returned onshore from a fortnight's work on the oil rigs of the North Sea. The caution of the opener was dispensed with by a crisp left hook from Murphy in the second who caught Bartlett cleanly. This prompted a flurry of work from which Murphy came out with an almost inevitable nose bleed. Bartlett stance is very square on in his work, but he's prepared to take to give, and it doesn't look as though Murphy holds any fear for the Highlander. An accidental clash of heads in the fourth exacerbates the bleeding for Murphy and Bartlett senses that his opponent is suffering, opening up with some heavy handed shots. By the fifth round Murphy's face is telling the tale and the over hand rights from Bartlett have the Cambuslang man all over the place, to the extent that Referee Victor Loughlin rightly steps in to rescue him at the 1.07 mark. Bartlett looked good in this bout after the tentative opener, but the question is where does young Murphy go from here? With three stoppages against him in five outings and his two victories against Professor Buckley and Sergei Rozakhmens, neither of which would have been difficult, it is not for me to answer, but the look of total despair of the lad's face tells a story of it's own. Mark Hastie (Motherwell) 10st 7lb vs Geraint Harvey (Pontypridd) 10st 8.5lb Ref K Pringle 6 x 2mins Hastie started as though he wanted an early shower by delivering weighty body shots in the opener, and he very nearly did get his wish as Harvey failed to answer a twelve punch “Blitz” in this round. Hastie's right hand shots to the body are potent indeed, and while the bout became a little towsy in the second and third, the latter was lit up with a peach of a right hook from Hastie which had the Welshman holding Hastie as close as a limpet to relieve the pressure. Hastie did on a couple of occasions venture into the “Rio Grande” area with shots that were close to “South of the Border”, not maliciously, but nonetheless could have been penalised. The contest was always absorbing if somewhat lacking in finesse, as both boxers gave flashes of their ability. The resulting 58 – 56 to Hastie was a fair decision, which neither party could complain of. Mitch Prince (Cumbernauld) 9st 10lb vs Steve Gethin (Walsall) 9st 6lb Ref V Loughlin 6 x 2mins The “Prince” was all over Gethin like a rash from the outset, and his work-rate is high indeed. As early as the 2nd Gethin as a wee mouse starting over his left eye, and Prince is switch-hitting to good effect, particularly his body shots which are delivered with meat in them. Prince has good footwork and as a result he's in and out, having delivered his combinations before Gethin can get anything off in return. Fair play to the Walsall man though, he never gave up and probably got a share of the 4th. In the end though, it was “The Prince” who racked up another straightforward point win by 60 – 55. Prince is a hardworking professional who gives his all in his bouts, and is pleasing to watch, with good defensive skills to match his punching ability, and his work rate is high and good value on any show. Craig Dickson (Pollock) 10st 13lb vs Francis Jones (Darlington) 10st 13lb Ref K Pringle 6 x 3mins Dickson took the centre ground in the opener as Jones proved to be elusive on the outside. Jones however, has fast hands and is making good use of them in the 2nd round with a particularly eye catching right uppercut from the Hartlepool man featuring. The bout has now burst into life and could easily have been fought in a phone box as there's no light between them and no-one particularly dominating what is becoming a hard fight between two skilful boxers. Dickson does have a wee cut above his left eye as a result of an accidental clash of heads, which isn't really surprising given that they're toe to toe. The effort put in by both men is telling on them by the fifth, as it has been hard work from both boxers, but for me Jones seems buoyed by this and puts in some lovely fast shots to both the head and body of Dickson. The final round probably had the home boy just a nose in front from the overall fight, but that counted for nothing as Jones delivered a super straight right to Dickson's head which had his defence unlocked and his jaw slackened with him stuck on the ropes. Referee Kenny Pringle stepped in to wave it off after 18 seconds of the final round, much to the annoyance of the biased crowd of Dickson's supporters' ringside. It's all very well them decrying the call-off, but it isn't their head that is on the receiving end of the punishment, and Jones is an exciting talent with good hand speed who could then have hurt Dickson seriously with his guard dropped and his eyes glazed over. Gary McArthur (Clydebank) 9st 9lb vs Frederic Gosset (France) 9st 13lb Ref V Loughlin 6 x 3mins McArthur is as always, totally focussed on the business on hand despite topping the bill in his hometown, and the southpaw lead effective against the shorter Frenchman. He (McArthur) counters the almost solitary attack from Gosset with imperceptible ease in the opener. McArthur goes through the gears in the second as he now knows that Gosset isn't in the same league. The almost textbook right hooks and lightning fast combinations, whilst not hurting Gosset, are smart, tidy and good to watch. Comprehensive and clinical spring to mind when describing McArthur's work (apart from the grunting which accompanies almost every shot), and the bout is akin to a fairground “Ghost Train” in the sense that it is only going in one direction, towards Gosset, with nothing to scare the Clydebank man. McArthur is lively and elusive in defence too, such that Gosset cannot lay a hand on him, despite his frequent shows of Gallic bravado. It is a pity McArthur seems not to be too heavy handed as I suspect he'd get quicker nights such is the range and variety of his boxing skills. Had this been an amateur bout with a computer, then “Le Tchio” would have been RSCO'd by about the 3rd round such was the superior boxing of the local man. Chris Gilmour can be well pleased with his venture into Clydebank, as the show was well balanced and good value for the punters; the venue was atmospheric and getting “Skeets” Gallagher as guest of honour an inspired move. Scottish heavyweight hopeful Ian Millarvie was in attendance, and it is to be hoped that he can restart his burgeoning career in the near future, after his accident in the U.S. Photos by Paul Knox - http://www.om-shantiphotography.co.uk/

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