Costello creams Cottier at Custard Factory by Tom Podmore Nov 19th 2007

Chelmsley Wood teenager Thomas ‘The Natural' Costello improved his unblemished professional record to three fights with a routine four-round win over durable Londoner Duncan Cottier at Birmingham's Custard Factory on Sunday (November 18). Pugilist Promotions (former pro Jon Pegg and Chelmsley Wood head-honcho and pro trainer John Costello) put on the value-for-money debut show that also saw 12 high-class amateur contests (see separate report) before the professional boxing swung underway. Let's hope it's the first of many from the ambitious Chelmsley Wood-based pair, whose well-matched 16-fight unpaid and pro card at the Rojac Building was a complete sell-out. Thomas, a former top-class amateur for Chelmsley Wood, put in a composed and mature performance against the hard-as-nails Cottier. He took his time, picked his punches and wasted little behind a tight guard. The 18-year-old Brummie wasn't in any frantic rush to blast the bigger, more experienced bigger Chingford-based scrapper out of the ring, which is always a positive sign. Even when his supporters called for the KO, Costello stuck to the pre-fight instructions. The former Chelmsley Wood ABC boxer had been a tad guilty of rushing his work against durable Jason Nesbitt in his last bout (July), though still heartily outscored his fellow-Brummie by a margin of 40-37. Trained by his dad and former WBC super-middleweight boss Richie Woodhall, Costello recently signed a four-fight deal with Frank Warren, Britain's number one promoter. He is expected to make his debut for Sports Network at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on February 2. Not halted quickly since Sheffield's Kell Brook took care of him inside three rounds 18 fights ago, Cottier showed how defensively adept he was when Thomas put his foot on the accelerator in the last couple. But he would be the first to admit he was beaten comprehensively by the former Junior ABA and Four Nations champion. And while he offered little way of offence, he showed his opponent how to ride a punch in the face of greater power. John Keane (in charge of all four paid bouts) told both to clean up their work in a scrappy opening round full of holding – mainly instigated by Cottier, who had Len Woodhall and Bob Plant in his corner. A right to the body from the local ticket-seller being one of the only clean punches of note in the first three. Costello (10st 11 1/2lbs) took his time in the second, looking for the right punches to penetrate the 30-year-olds tight defence. He found space with a straight left before bringing down a sharp right to the body, forcing his shorter foe to grab hold. The tempo was being stepped up bit by bit in the third, prompting Cottier to take evasive action on the ropes and around the ring. Again, hooks to the abdomen caused the tattooed scrapper concern, though showed his mettle and toughness to soak it up. Cottier (11st 1lb) was driven back by fast-handed attacks in the final session. Thomas, now enjoying himself, used fast feet to find angles – driving in hooks to the body before moving on the outside to drill the 38-fight veteran with long rights.  Mr Keane rightly marked the 12-minute light-middleweight scrap 40-36. An impressive showing from the Birmingham welterweight, 3-0 (1), who benefits from sparring with Jamie Cox, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Novice ABA champ Ben Murphy in the gym. Birmingham welter-cum-light-middle ‘Sweet' D Mitchell was eager to return to the win column after a cruel injury stoppage defeat in his last contest. He did that, but was frustrated by the spoiling tactics of Pontefract centurion Peter Dunn, who got a memento from the board for his recent achievement. Mr Keane tallied the middleweight six-twos 60-54 to the well-supported former Chelmsley Wood ABC stylist. The scoring, as ever during this show, looked spot-on. Mitchell, 30, lost his unbeaten record to Bethnal Green-based Latvian Gatis Skuja in July – a fight he was comfortably winning – when a bruised eardrum forced him to withdraw after five rounds. He was understandably devastated. However, he got back to winning ways with a routine if frustrating 12-minute bout with the durable scrapper from Yorkshire, who hasn't been stopped with punches since 2005 (49 fights ago). Peter, competing in his 101st outing of a ten-year professional career, certainly didn't enjoy the bodyshots Delroy banged in during the last six minutes. His face was also marked up, especially under the left eye. Loose-limbed, relaxed Mitchell (11st 1 1/4lbs) was closed down by Dunn early – giving the Erdington boxer no space to work. But D started to make space as the round progressed and long right crosses had brought a swelling underneath his opponent's eye by the bell. Switch-hitting D, using impressive footwork to find angles, dug the body well in the second. Dunn crowded forward and tossed over rights, but was drilled with rights when the Richie Woodhall-trained Brummie stepped back and found space. Michael Marsden-trained Dunn, 32, continued to spoil on the inside during the third, which frustrated the popular local to the point of punching his experienced foe in the kidneys. Peter (10st 13lbs) was forced onto the ropes in the fourth, hurt with solid right hands and uppercuts. Now boxing as a southpaw, Mitchell clouted Dunn with double jabs and follow-up left and right uppercuts in round five, making the former Central Area title challenger hang on tightly. Several solid hooks to the body made Peter gulp for air in the last as D searched for the finish. Mitchell, now 7-1 (2), is ready for a step up in class in 2008. Eddie ‘Braveheart' McIntosh looks a solid talent. The Bartley Green puncher outpointed (40-36) St Clare's reigning British Masters twelve-six champ Mark Phillips after a hard-fought four-twos. After an explosive two-round debut KO over Nicky Taylor in September, McIntosh was taken the distance by the durable Welsh farmer. It wasn't a great surprise when you consider Phillips has only been halted twice (ABA champ Dan Guthrie and English champ Steve Spartacus) in 57 paid outings. Eddie (12st 4 1/2lbs) tried, hurting the 32-year-old in the first, but Mark knew what he had to do to survive and didn't look in a great deal of trouble again, though had to ship one or two solid right hands along the way. The Richie Woodhall-trained ticket-seller forced Phillips (12st 6 3/4lbs) on to the back foot in the second, making the Welshman – face red from an early two-fisted assault from the Brummie – cover desperately after absorbing two right hooks to the body. The final two rounds followed a similar pattern: with the bull-like McIntosh, now 2-0 (1), charging forward with combinations and Nick Hodges-trained Phillips covering stoutly and firing back with the occasional burst. Richie Woodhall has tipped his charge, who fights again at the Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester on December 3, to win the British title. Northfield cruiserweight Tommy ‘The Gunn' Owens was spectacularly knocked out in two rounds by Darlington debutant Adudabar ‘Bob' Ajisafe, who reached the finals of the ABA Novices last term. Ajisafe, 22, was in command during the short contest – moving his feet, upper-body and never failing to find the target with his solid jab. He forced the Richie Woodhall boxer back, decked him in the first and brutally knocked him unconscious in the second. Birmingham's Owens, 24, was left poleaxed under the bottom rope as John Keane stopped the fight without counting so the paramedics could deal with the stricken man. Woodhall was about to throw the towel in as Bob went to finish the job. The Michael Marsden-managed fighter, with recent British title challenger Franny Jones in his corner, had dominated the first with left leads and right hooks and uppercuts. He continually switched stances and a cracking right-left put Owens (13st 4 1/2lbs) down late on. Tommy, now 1-2 (0), made it to his feet at eight but was stung on the resumption by the tall, loose-limbed doorman from Country Durham (13st) and was fortunate to hear the bell. Big Bob dominated from the start of the second. A sickening right hook connected cleanly on the exposed jaw of Owens 20 seconds in, lifting him off his feet and putting him flat on his back near his corner. Mr Keane dispensed with the count with only 25 seconds gone. After being checked out by the medics for a few minutes, Owens was led to his corner before being well enough to congratulate the winning debutant. Its early days but Ajisafe (pronounced Aji-saf) looks good. It was set for four-threes.

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