Lawton remains on track by Ben Carey May 16th 2005

Lightweight Scott Lawton racked up his 14th victory in 15 starts by going over old ground in outpointing Carl Allen over six rounds on the Octagon undercard, 60-54. Lawton had previously decisioned Allen over ten just under a year ago to claim the Midlands Area title. And once more the Stoke fighter had to emerge from a mini crisis to see off the wily Allen. A left hook in the second round caused Lawton's legs to wobble but Allen, seemingly unaware of how badly Scott was shaken, failed to seize the moment when it was there. In fairness, Lawton quickly regained his composure to take the remaining sessions with some tidy boxing. Countering Allen's right with his own left hook, Lawton was able to force the Wolverhampton veteran into his shell in the third. The pattern continued into the fifth with Allen off beam with his left hook and Lawton nailing him with his own right showing excellent timing. And Scott finished strongly to bag the sixth but by his own admission is capable of performing better. Trainer Neil Holland admitted afterwards that the withdrawal of the unbeaten Ricky Burns and fellow Scot Martin Watson's reluctance to fill the breach had left Lawton deflated. Hopefully promoters Fight Academy can rekindle either match for the 28-year-old's next assignment. Lawton remains in the domestic mix. Teenage sensation Kell Brook turned pro to much acclaim in the Steel City last September and he made it seven out of seven by taking every session in his six-twos light-middleweight contest against Stourport stayer, Ernie Smith. Ernie hasn't been stopped since Graham Delehedy halted in him in three last May, some 21 fights ago to be precise, and Brook never seemed likely to repeat the trick despite outclassing his man. The switch-hitting youngster did as he pleased throughout the opening four sessions, jarring Smith with some beautifully delivered corkscrew uppercuts and utilising a stiff jab. Ernie seemed slightly disorientated after being caught by an uppercut in the third but emerged from a neutral corner with arms outstretched spitting defiance in the youth's direction. However Kell, just as he did against Lee Handley in March, went off the boil as the contest neared its conclusion. After making Brook miss, Smith spun the Sheffield star around and flung a left hook which caught Kell flush leading to an icy stare down on the bell to end of the fifth. Ernie finished strongly, too. Getting his jab going he was able to force Brook backwards and registered a decent right to definitely win the round as far as I was concerned. Predictably, man in the middle Kevin Durandt ruled every round for Brook. Can anyone tell me what a journeyman has to do to take a session these days? Brook certainly possesses bundles of natural talent, and a cracking array of skills that have been honed inside Brendan Ingle's famous Wincobank gym, but he's struggling to live up to the hype at the moment. Hastings Rasani is on a roll. The Zimbabwean, now a permanent member of Nobby Nobbs' losers limited camp, made it three out three with a surprise fifth round stoppage over the previously unbeaten Danny Grainger in the opening bout of the afternoon. Rasani had halted Nate Joseph in four a week ago in Bradford and has clearly developed a taste for success. Grainger, from nearby Chesterfield, was 7-0 but had been absent from the ring for almost a year. Left hooks dumped Grainger on the mat in rounds one and two, and when Grainger stumbled against the ropes after absorbing a right cross in the fifth referee Phil Edwards signalled the end. Mexborough middleweight Stuart Brooks, trained by popular ex-pro Mark Brookes (no relation), made a sizzling start to life as a professional with a 60-54 points victory over the plucky Geraint Harvey over six-twos at middleweight. The tall and angular Harvey, in the Henry Janes mould, competed on even ground in the early going, but Brooks' crisper, more accurate blows saw him gradually take over forcing his opponent into survival mode towards the close. Brooks, who brought good support with him, appears to pack a dig.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.