Gordon and Downing in First Team Grudge fight by Tom Podmore Nov 22nd 2007

Black Country welterweights Martin Gordon and Wayne Downing have both vowed to be the last man standing when they clash in a six-round rematch on First Team's ‘The Mutt Bites Back' card at Walsall's Banks' Stadium next Wednesday (November 28). West Bromwich southpaw Downing, 3-5 (0), narrowly outpointed the 25-year-old former Lions ABC club captain by a score of 58-57 when they met in a hard-fought, bad-tempered six-twos in Stoke-on-Trent last December. Wayne, 30, got his hand raised by John Keane, but finished with some nasty-looking cuts around his right eye and needed 13 stitches. Gordon was incensed, clearly thinking he'd done more than enough to get his first paid win. Martin, 0-3-1, admitted: “I thought I was two rounds ahead after the fifth and was determined to clinch it by going for it in the final round. But my corner told me to play it safe and not risk anything. “I was really gutted when Downing got his hand raised,” continued the former good-class amateur from Brierley Hill. “He, as did everyone at the Moat House in Stoke, knew I was a clear winner.” Downing, a former kickboxer who lost his first three paid outings, countered by saying: “Martin knows he didn't win the first fight. He is making excuses because he lost. “I was glad to get the six rounds under my belt and prove that I could fight at a decent pace over the longer distances. “I'll make sure I beat him so conclusively that there will be no questions from anyone,” the pumped-up West Bromwich Albion supporter rounded off. This sure-to-be explosive welterweight grudge match between two men who train in Wednesbury will be one of six fights on the undercard of former British welterweight champ Young Mutley's six-threes comeback scrap against iron-chinned Ukrainian Vladimir Borovski. Coventry portsider Steve Bendall, 27-3 (14), also sees action against Ukrainian opposition, taking on Dniepropetrovsk southpaw Alexander Matviechuk in a six-threes. Bendall is set to fight Liverpool's Paul Smith for the vacant English middleweight strap, a title he once held, in the New Year. Walsall super-middleweight Matty Hough, 7-2 (1), Stourbridge's Sam Horton, 6-0 (1), and Halesowen lightweight Scott Evans, 1-0 (0), complete the bill. Tickets are available from Paul (PJ) Rowson on 07976-283157 or Errol Johnson on 07852-268333.

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