Braveheart Promotions Burns “Bash” a Winner by Tom Walker Jan 27th 2007

The numbers may have been down on the previous sell-out on their inaugural promotion, however, there's no doubt that Braveheart Promotions know how to put on a show. The reduction in numbers could well be attributed to a combination of things, not the least being the fact that January is a “long” month for people on monthly salaries and the effects of Christmas & Ne'erday on the credit card bills which will have found their way through the letter boxes recently. Nevertheless, match-maker Powell had fixed up a four bout card which was balanced and good to watch, and the venue and food can't be faulted either. Eamon Goodbrand 11st 1lbs vs Rocky Muscus 11st 10lbs 6 x 2mins Ref Kenny Pringle The debutant opened his paid career as if he wanted to stop Muscus with every punch he threw, his hooks to the body were delivered with “malice aforethought”, but Muscus has been round the block and takes them without flinching. Goodbrands defence is conspicuous by its absence and he'd do well to relax and work instead of trying to go for the early finish. Many of his hooks are slaps and whilst loud and highly visible, they don't score for me. In his defence Goodbrand is nervous and raw energy personified as you'd expect on most debuts, but he does have some good movement and range of shots which we're likely to see more of as he gains in confidence. Muscus stopped most of Goodbrand's jabs and straight lefts with his gloves and forearms, whilst looking for an opportunity to dent the confidence of the new boy. With so much energy used up trying to stop Muscus, it was to be expected that Goodbrand would tire and he did so in the final round as his defence went “walk-about” again. With Muscus being reasonably heavy-handed that could have been dangerous for the protégé of Rab Bannon, however, on this occasion, he didn't get caught out and referee Kenny Pringle had no hesitation in raising his hand at the end. The 60 – 54 score though doesn't do Muscus any favours as I thought he should have got a share of a couple of them, for a debut with all the attendant pressure though, Goodbrand looked fairly exciting. Kris “Badger” Hughes 8st 8lbs vs Rob Bunford 8st 11lbs 6 x 2mins ref Victor Loughlin Southpaw Hughes' second paid outing was somewhat tentative initially, as the clash of styles probably exacerbated the lack of fluidity. Nonetheless Hughes is outscoring the Welshman in every round; it just doesn't seem to be flowing. Hughes is sparing in his use of his left hand, though when he does get it off it is effective. Bunford is a hustling sort of fighter and that is also prohibiting the fluidity we've come to expect from “Badger”. He (Bunford) is ripe for picking off with counters but Hughes' isn't using them. In round 5 Hughes' is back-pedalling from the hustling style of the Welshman, but in truth is still doing enough to pick up the points on the referees card. Badger never really dominated this fight, but Bunford didn't look easy to hit with his style either. Still a win is a win and the score of 60 – 54 from Victor Loughlin seems on paper at any rate as an easy night, though in truth it wasn't that easy for “Badger” SR Russell 9st 1lbs vs Abdul Mougharbel 8st 13lb 6 x 2mins ref Kenny Pringle Southpaw Russell is very nimble on his feet and has fast hands to match, both of which are making the task for the Syrian even harder especially as he's being picked of with lightweight but stinging shots from the Paisley youngster. Russell's defence seems to revolve round his movement and reflexes as his hands are down low for most of the time, despite calls from his corner to “get them up”. Mougharbel does tend to favour working in the inside, but isn't being allowed to do so by the movement of Russell and the referee calling break whenever they get into a clinch. Russell is warming to the task by the 4th round and is positively enjoying it by the 5th as his stiff lefts find the target with unerring accuracy. This is more like the expectations we have for the youngster and his left uppercut in the last round was a peach sending the spray from the Syrian's head. There was no doubting the score line in this one, it was a straight-forward 60 – 54 win for the local boy, which pleased his fellow “Buddie” Kris Carslaw of Paisley watching from the top table. Paddy Pollock 11st 2lbs vs Dave Wakefield 10st 9lbs 6 x 2mins ref Victor Loughlin Straight from the first bell Wakefield is pushing Pollock backwards with his jab to the Wishaw man's head and is relentless in his pressure throughout the bout. Pollock doesn't look comfortable under this sustained pressure, nor are his supporters who're imploring him to throw some leather. In truth though, he can't get started as Wakefield just keeps coming at him, unsettling the home fighter. Pollock is having to hold by the mid point and referee Loughlin tells him volubly without stopping the bout. He (Pollock) does get a very stern but still private warning in the 4th for a low blow on the Tooting man's trunk. It just isn't Pollock's night and he knows it, as does Wakefield who responds with renewed vigour in the closing round, which culminates in a 59-56 decision for the Londoner from referee Loughlin. All in all this was a good night's boxing, the results were all fair, the bouts well matched and the after dinner speech by a former member of “Strathclyde Polis” most enjoyable. The icing on the cake for me was getting a chance to free-sample some tasty malt whiskies from the Malt Whisky Association in the foyer of the hotel. Charity too benefited from an auction of memorabilia from boxing and football.

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