King Arthur “reigns” on Spain by Tom Walker Nov 6th 2006

Alex Arthur successfully defended his European Super-featherweight title against Sergio Palomo of Madrid in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall last night on the top of the bill clash courtesy of Frank Warrens Sports Network. Though it has to be said that once again your favourite boxing web-site was denied press accreditation and had to bring this humble offering from within the massed ranks of the Willie Limond and Ricky Burns supporters, which in itself is no big deal, but it does make it well nigh impossible to do justice to the proceedings when you can't hear M.C. Michael Pass' voice even announce the weights of the boxers. Gary Young 10st 12lb started his rehabilitation post his first round KO finish at the hands of Colin McNeil earlier in the year with a 6 x 3min bout against the ever durable Ernie Smith 11st 4lb of Stourport. The opening was characterised by very tidy work from the Edinburgh boxer, with his jab dominating and occasional overhand rights which had Smith having to cover up and on occasion hold. By the 4th round Smith obviously sensed that he was well behind and then offer some offensive work of his own, but none the less Young was still for me well in control and Smith may well have a share of this round. The end result was a 60 – 55 points decision to Young The English title was up for grabs in the second of the evening's bouts with Nigel Wright of Hartlepool and Gary Reid of Wolverhampton challenging Wright for the belt. Wright brings his own “Barmy Army” up over the border and they're in full voice albeit with British West Hartlepool accents. The “Monkey Hangers” are always welcome as they add colour and noise to any show. The elegant southpaw Wright does have a height and reach advantage of Reid and he is making it count. His counterpunching to Reid's aggressive style is neat and accurate, and those in the know will recognise it as such. Reid is harrying Wright onto the back foot for most of the bout, but in truth it is untidy work from the Wolverhampton man, whereas the Hartlepool boxer is smart and crisp in his quick jabs, which are scoring. Towards the end of the ten rounder Wright began to go on the offensive and scores with double jabs to Reid's head as he (Reid) begins to tire from his constant bull like charges, which has him game and big hearted, but not in the same class as the elegant Wright. Wright retains his belt with a 98 – 94 score from referee Victor Loughlin. Ricky Burns 9st 6lb was in against Vladimir Borov 9st 5lb of Bulgaria in the 3rd of the evening's bouts. There is a big fan base on the south side of the arena for the Coatbridge man, and it is hard to think much less hear anything such is the vocal cacophony created by his fans. Burns started with a distinct height advantage over the diminutive Bulgarian and Burns looks as though he wants to do this early as he dominates Borov from the outset. His use of the left jab is redolent of “Gentleman Jim Corbett” in his heyday, a soubriquet not used lightly. He totally dominated his opponent throughout the eight rounder, and indeed looked as though he would finish it early, but presumably used the bout to rack up some rounds. Burns really rattled Borov with his right in the last round which had the Bulgarian hanging on to Burns to prevent him from taking a count, so much so that he dragged Burns to the deck with himself. Kenny Pringle gave it to Burns on an 80 – 72 points margin which was spot on. Burns frankly looked way above this guy's class and Rab Bannon was duly delighted with his charge's efforts, as indeed were his fans. Colin McNeil of Fauldhouse had been scheduled to meet another Spaniard, but for whatever reason, Lagos was replaced by David Kirk of Mansfield a veteran of 71 professional bouts. McNeil's use of his stiff left jab and overhand right is disorientating Kirk in the early stages sending plumes of spray from the Mansfield boxer's head. Kirk did take McNeil by surprise with his own left, but only momentarily as McNeil steps on the gas again. Kirk is in survival mode as McNeil forces him (Kirk) onto the back foot, and he has to take a standing count in round four. Kirk is starting to unravel as the fight moves into the latter stages. McNeil sends in a peach of an uppercut and a right cross which sends Kirk's gumshield spinning out of his mouth. Even at this stage of the six rounder Kenny Pringle is looking very close at Kirk, but he does see it out if painfully. The score of 60 – 52 isn't flattering to McNeil as he was well worthy of it and may well have stopped it, were it not for the game Kirk's heart. Next up was Belfast southpaw Paul McCloskey 10st 2lb with Sheffield's Daniel Thorpe 10st 1lb. McCloskey always has an almost languid style that is relaxed and effective. I do wish though he wouldn't put himself at risk as he sometimes does, by getting so close to his opponents with his guard held low. Thorpe is down for a standing count at the very outset of the bout, and McCloskey is looking very accomplished as he takes the Sheffield man apart. Thorpe is retired at the end of the 3rd round by his corner with an injury to his shoulder, but in truth this may have been tactical as he was on a hiding to nothing from the Irishman who is very pleasing to watch as a boxer. The chief supporting bout of the evening was programmed for TV, and Willie Limond 9st 8.25lb met Kpapko Allotey 9st 7.25lb for the Commonwealth Lightweight title. Limond started this bout in a business like manner with terrific hand speed, a tight defence and just frankly looked a cut above the Ghanaian. As early as the 2nd round Limond delivered a beautiful 3 punch combination which was a master class in boxing. Allotey is coming out of his shell in round 3, but it is a shell he's been forced into by the skilful boxing of the Scot. Limond is on the receiving end of a low blow in round 3, but Howard Foster gives him the necessary time to recover, which wasn't that much, as Limond didn't seem fazed by the punch. Allotey though, is dangerous and Limond would do well to remember this as his (Allotey) punches are delivered with meat in them. By the mid point in the bout Allotey seems to realise that he's not denting the Scot in any way and becomes a little bit desperate in his work, whilst this is the best I've seen of Limond both from an offensive and defensive perspective. By the 7th the only thing Allotey hasn't thrown is the “kitchen sink” all to no avail as Limond is conducting a master class in boxing. Allotey and his corner are slow to get back to work at the start of round eight, but sensing that he's a mile off the pace he is doing so in desperation which will make him dangerous. Two super over hand rights from Limond characterise the eighth, and from them Allotey looks a spent force as he trudges back to his stool at the end of the round. The final two rounds were a reprise of the earlier ones in that Limond was always in control. Allotey raises his arm at the end of the bout, for the life of me I can't work out why as he was never at the races in this bout, Limond was at his very best and it was a joy to watch from a Scottish perspective. The three judges gave it to Limond unanimously, with points that I'm at a loss to explain as for me it was a shut-out, but then I'm probably a little biased and they're probably considering the feelings of the visitor. In an extraordinary display of parochialism hundreds of the Glasgow fans of Limond did leave the auditorium after the bout, which leaves me a bit shocked as the main bout is till to come and despite paying the ticket price, there's still a very prestigious title at stake. Next up was the bout between the head of “Braveheart Promotions & Braveheart Security” Barry Hughes 10st 1lb and Baz Carey 10st 2lb. This was really a completely forgettable bout and perhaps Barry will consider whether he wants to go through this again as patently he doesn't do it for the money, having more than enough with his other entrepreneurial skills. He got the decision of 39 – 37 on points, but will probably forget the bout and the fee which he'd have got before long with his numerous other irons in the fire. The top of the bill was the European Super-featherweight championship with “Amazing” Alex Arthur 9st 4lb defending against Sergio Palomo 9st 3.5lb from Madrid. Despite the loss of several hundred narrow minded fans that'd left early, there is a great atmosphere inside the Kelvin Hall to greet the maestro from the East. Within the assembly is Arthur's nemesis Michael Gomez in what presumably someone thought was a good idea. It wasn't and the fans let Gomez know in no uncertain terms that he was not what he thought he was. The bout started sprightly with Arthur dominating to the extent that he had Palomo down in the opener, his over hand rights coupled to his piston like jab is culture by comparison to the Spaniard's efforts. Palomo was down at the start of the second salvo with another left hook from Arthur and this has the makings of a quick and early night for the Champion. With two standing counts in as many rounds and Arthur pinning the Spaniard in the neutral corner with some crisp combinations, even at this early stage the man from Madrid looks to be soaked from the “rain” of blows he's receiving. Arthur is teeing the Spaniard up with his left and Palomo is not enjoying himself one little bit. Jimmy Tibbs is calmness personified in the Arthur corner at the end of round three whereas the opposite corner seem all at sea as their man looks dejected by the size of the task in front of him. The fifth round had another potential count dismissed by the referee when frankly it was a stonewall count as a blow had put Palomo to the canvas. However, it was duly avenged by another one which did count and by which time the referee called it off to save the very limited Spaniard from being really hurt. The man from Madrid was never in the same league as Arthur and it showed, but then again Scottish clubs are not in the same league as Spanish ones and every now and again they have to match up against each other so it was good to have the boot on the other foot. Arthur was impervious to everything that the ranked Spaniard had to offer and certainly “Reigned over Spain”. The night closed with Mark Walker 16st 13lb of South Shields in with Chris Woollas 17st 11lb from Doncaster in a 4 x 3min heavyweight clash. Both boys had periods of control for such big men and the draw scored by Victor Loughlin on behalf of triallist referee Paul McCullagh of Belfast was about right. I had hoped to be in with the paper journalists, who when all is said and done, do not do justice to the stalwarts of the under card for possibly editorial reasons, being more limited in space than our web-site, but again it was not to be. Mr Warren if you're reading this and I trust you are, then can we not get the appropriate level of accreditation for a site that is growing in popularity with the number of hits registered, in order to do justice to the shows Sports Network put on.

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

Friend name: Friend email: Your name: Your email:   Privacy Statement

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