Barnsley bits and bobs by Ian McNeilly Jul 14th 2007

A little round up of quotes and ringside banter from a great night's action at the Barnsley Metrodome last night. John ‘Fireball' Fewkes was understandably as pleased as punch (ho, ho) with his impressive points victory over classy veteran campaigner Tontcho Tontchev. What was as clear as the six pack on his stomach was that Fewkes, at 9st 9lb, was in the best physical condition of his life. He often comes in at just over 10st and has complained in the past of a struggle to get down to lightweight. This time, he made it easily. The threat of fighting his toughest opponent to date focused his mind and helped his self-discipline. “I'd done a weights regime for six weeks and I felt ten times stronger in there. Normally I'm not really drinking (any liquids) for three days before weigh in but this time I could drink litres. I've worked so hard for this. “I don't want to sound big headed but I think I can be a force in the country at lightweight. Which other prospect out there is fighting the likes of Tontchev? I've been fighting good kids like Scott Haywood and Craig Watson (who was ringside to see the action). “Simon Block (top man at the British Boxing Board of Control) told me if I beat Tontchev tonight that I'd be ranked number 8 in Europe at lightweight.” Fewkes also admitted his use of the shoulder, although not malicious, has become a habit he needs to adjust. “I've always done it just to make myself room. It's nothing nasty but I'll have to work on it.” He committed infringements aplenty and the docking of a point from fellow Yorkshireman Howard Foster in the fourth round was inevitable. Fewkes argued that not of the fouls were deliberate – except maybe one. “He hurt me in the seventh and instead of getting carried away and storming in I used my experience to tie him up. I hit him low then too which gave me a bit of time.” Fewkes was buzzed by Watson from a right hand at the death of their contest and ‘The Fireball' is aware he needs to tighten up on this. He said the reason he got clipped by Tontchev was a misunderstanding on his part of trainer Glyn Rhodes' instructions. “Glyn told me to calm down and stop going at it like a bull in a china shop. I thought he meant take a step back so I gave Tontchev some distance and he caught me. In fact, Glyn just meant be a bit more controlled in my pressure.” The Sheffielder got a bit caught up with himself in his post-fight TV interview. “I said to my fans I would thank them if I got on telly but I got too used to my own voice and forgot them! So, I'd like to say now a big thanks to them all for supporting me.” - - -  I'd heard the rumours that Carl Johanneson wasn't in great shape some time before his demolition at the hands of Leva Kiravosyan. He'd had personal problems, hadn't been training and his conditioning was poor. The Ingles (who hadn't been training him for this contest) put him through a sparring trial in the run up to the fight and that didn't go well but he needed someone in his corner so they obliged. Personally, I think they should have pulled him at the end of the third but hindsight is always 20/20. John Ingle said: “We told him not to take the fight. He wasn't ready. We'd have preferred him to win the Lonsdale Belt and get himself into proper condition before taking on someone like this bloke. He's (Kiravosyan) a beast. There are easier world title fights out there than him.” So, with this special inside information I made myself a packet at the bookies, yes? Nope. I got the same information before the Burns fight and lost a lump. Daft lad. - - - Michael Gomez was at ringside. If you were within a mile of the ring you wouldn't need telling. One of his pals, astutely, referred to him as a ‘performing seal'. He barked unheeded orders to Johanneson and then verbally mugged the champion (whom Gomez stopped in six rounds three years ago) on his victory march from the ring. “ME AND YOU, YES?” Gomez barked in his best broken Mancunian. “COME ON, ME AND YOU! MONEY!” as he bounced up and down on his toes, ready to rumble. Kiravosyan smiled and shook his hand like an old friend. Be careful what you wish for, Michael. - - - I can't remember what time boxing started but it wasn't particularly late. We still didn't leave until after 11.15. God knows what time we would have been there until if there hadn't been plenty of stoppages. The fights were absolutely rattled through without a breather between them. Sheffield soldier and ticket seller Ross Burkinshaw didn't want his fans to be left until last again. So, his scheduled four-rounder was squeezed in before the telly started. Shame about it was that his pals from the Rifles regiment, in full uniformed regalia and with bugles, didn't get the chance to give him the big entry their efforts deserved. Instead they sheepishly sat at ringside and gave the odd toot here and there.  Ross ‘The Boss' was in trouble in the first against Bulgarian livewire Iordan Vasilev but crumpled him with a perfect left hook to the body in the third. Burkinshaw then gave an elaborate bow to each corner of the venue. - - - I nicknamed Geard Ajetovic ‘Gifted but Lazy' a good while ago now. Possibly, for his fans, the most frustrating boxer to watch in Britain. Last night he was scintillating. His work rate right from the off was excellent. Lots of shots and angles. He outclassed Patrick Maxwell by the end.  Maxwell had been doing OK in his attempt to ‘set the record straight' and avenge the latest perceived injustice in his career which was a draw these two boxed some weeks earlier. But as the contest went on, his started shipping a few. Then a few more. Referee Michael Alexander intervened as Ajetovic had Maxwell pinned to the ropes. It was fair as far as I could see. Maxwell, whose said to have excellent balance because of the chips on both his shoulders, didn't agree. The temperamental (and talented) middleweight stormed from the ring and didn't wait for the formalities. I feared for the dressing room furniture. - - - Formerly Britain's biggest heavyweight, Carl Baker, was another face at ringside. After leaving the Ingles and moving to Clifton Mitchell in Derby, Baker was looking to get his career (7-3) back on track. But it was fourteen months to the day since his last fight. One surprising thing though – he looked like he'd dropped a good bit of weight. “I'm trying to get my desire back and it's really hard. I've been down to Derby a few times for training but I'm ticking over at Virgin (a gym where Herol Graham is a fitness instructor in Sheffield). “I'm running a lot more now too.” “Yes, but is it still to the chip shop?” I ventured. “No, I don't go to the chip shop,” he laughed. “I can't afford it!”

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