The good, bad and ugly in Fife by Tom Walker Sep 16th 2007

It is churlish to describe the top of the bill as merely good since it was terrific, the bad was the referee's decision to let Willie Bilan box on after the first count and the downright ugly was the sight of Alex Stoda being disqualified for as blatant a “Glasgow Kiss” as you'll see outside of a street brawl on a Saturday night. Kevin Anderson's bout with Frannie Jones must be in the running for the fight of the year, as the Darlington man was brave over and above the call of duty by any stretch of the imagination. The show opened with an all East European match between Lukasz Wawrzycek (12st) in against Janos Petrovics (11st 2lb) of Hungary. With Polish TV in attendance for the three bouts featuring their boxers, the show started early and the signs were that these were men who'd been schooled in computer style boxing with neat orthodox shots. The Pole seemed the more motivated of the two as the Magyar covered up neatly from the advancing Wawrzycek. The shots that did get through his guard were light in weight but scoring with regularity. Strangely, by the mid-point in the bout the Hungarian's corner were telling him to “slow down”, was I missing something? I must have been, as he (Petrovics) was making a virtue out of “Energy Conservation” to the extent that global warming wouldn't be a problem if we all went as languidly as he did. In the end the Pole had a stroll to an 80-73 points win from referee Paul Graham. The second bout was the “World” title heavyweight clash between Albert Sosnowski (16st 10lb 14oz) from Poland (defending title holder) and his Argentinean opponent Manuel Pucheta (16st 1lb 6oz) with Terry O'Connor in control of the action. Sosnowski looked pretty stiff and tentative in his movement in the first round as he took the bout to Pucheta. The Argentinean had a pair of “man-boobs” that suggested he should have considered a sports bra to keep them in place, but he's showing the essential machismo of a man from the “Pampas” by posturing and inviting the Pole to slug it out. As early as the opener his nose was bleeding from stinging jabs, though not to any consequence. The second round sees Pucheta down from a left from the Pole with his gumshield spiralling out of his mouth, he takes the count and then gets another wee respite as he points out to the referee that it is on the canvas instead of in his mouth. This was only a temporary respite as Sosnowski catches him with a right hand to the temple which effectively ended the contest. Pucheta went down, got up at 8 but didn't know whether he was in last week or Las Vegas and Terry O'Connor was spot on to call it off after 1min 41secs of the second round. Next up was local Dunfermline boy with a fan base, Gordon Brennan (12st 4lb) matched with Nick Okoth (12st 5lb 10oz) of London. Finesse was in short supply with a tousled opener from both men. The “Fittest London Fireman” Okoth was neither intimidated by Brennan nor his vocal fans taking the lead in proceedings from the second round onwards. Okoth roughed Brennan out of his rhythm from then on, although I suspect the tongue-lashing Brennan would've received from Steve McGuire would have hurt him more than anything Okoth was delivering. Okoth did have Brennan almost toppled twice in the final round as the Fifer looked decidedly uncomfortable, as did his fans in the audience. The score of 40-37 says it all, Brennan possibly got a share of the opener, but nothing else. Willie Bilan (10st 5lb 2oz) from Buckhaven is a local boy with a big fan base and he's matched up against Alex Spitjo (10st 5lb 4oz) from Mansfield. Not for nothing is Spitjo nicknamed the “Pit Bull” as these two dispensed with any formalities and set about each other from the first bell. Defence had gone walkabout from both boys and as a result it was excitement unleashed. Unfortunately for the local boy, Spitjo obviously had the heavier shots! Bilan went down from a really hard shot to the head from the “Pit Bull” and really ought to have been counted out as he was patently not fit to resume. He did get up at eight but couldn't have stepped forward to show he was okay even if he wanted to, and from my seat in the press area it was obvious that his eyes were focused on another place as opposed to his defence. Kenny Pringle allowed him to box on, with consequences that had the audience (at least those of us who weren't blurred with alcohol) very concerned for his well being as Spitjo connected with another shot which had Bilan out on his feet, before sinking like the Titanic to the canvas where he lay sparked out. Kenny still continued with the count when he'd have been better to wave it off immediately and call for the doctor and medics, since the brave Bilan was still in the recovery position some six or so minutes later. It was a sickening moment for the young man who was always involved in wars when I refereed him in the amateurs, and I don't know whether continued wars are good for him despite the excitement he brings to the ring. The “Human Cannonball” (yes he actually does this in circus performances!) Dariusz Snarski (9st 10lb) met Gary McArthur of Clydebank (9st 12lb 10oz) over a six rounder in bout five of the evening. This was a clash of styles with the taller McArthur circling the ring darting out his southpaw jab and the tenacious Snarski winging his right hooks, which McArthur would do well to guard against. Three times in this bout, slips were adjudged when boxers went to the canvas, which make it sound as though it was untidy, but in fact it was quite a good bout with the clash of styles. From the fourth round on McArthur did find his rhythm and a terrific straight left to Snarki's face hit him harder than the cannon he's normally fired from. In the end a deserved points win for the Clydebank man by 59-56 from Paul Graham. Back to the heavyweights with bout six, and Ian Millarvie (17st 13lb) resumed his career against Chris Woollas (17st 6lb). The “Big Man” Millarvie has put on some weight for his return but not detrimentally, as he pursues Woollas with determination and his shots are considerably heavier than those of the shorter Woollas. Millarvie fients with his right and connects with a good left to send Woollas down early in the second round and now there's an inevitability about the ending since Woollas can't keep Millarvie at bay. The second and third counts render Paul Graham's scoring of the opener pointless as he rightly calls it off after 2mins 43 secs of round two. There is a quality about Millarvie's work after his spell in the USA and had it not been for a series of unfortunate accidents, this wouldn't have been his sixth comeback from five fights. We all hope that is behind him now as he does look better than some of the better known heavyweights on the British scene. The Celtic Super Middleweight title was up for grabs between local Glenrothes boxer Steve McGuire jnr at 11st 12lb 10oz and Welshman Nathan King at 11st 13lb 12oz. The bout opened well with McGuire using his overhand right to good effect as witness by marking around Kings left eye. King was doing a bit of holding blindside of referee Howard Foster by pinning McGuire's arms, but by round three King is having a better say in proceedings. In the fourth King's work rate is better than the local mans, who seems lethargic in comparison with his own standard. At the half way stage it is difficult to see where a breakthrough in the bout is going to come from, but if anything King is gaining in self belief and confidence, the question is can he sustain it over the distance. McGuire does land a peach of a left hook to the Welshman to send the spray flying and it appears as though Kings earlier effort may well have drained his stamina somewhat. Another two good rights from McGuire did wobble the Welshman in round eight, but somehow the man from Mountain Ash digs up some reserve coal for his boiler to perhaps shade the penultimate round. Both boxers realise that the title is still open to either of them in the last round, as a result they both try to catch Howard Foster's eye with their work. McGuire does get it by the narrowest of margins 96-95 and will be pleased that he doesn't have to meet King every week. The Welshman will feel aggrieved that he didn't get what his work and corner thought they should have, but for me it could have gone either way and was much closer than I'd anticipated. The top of the bill was an example of boxing at its best, and may well feature in the running for “Fight of the Year”. Kevin Anderson (10st 6lb 14oz) defending his British Welterweight title against Francis “Franny” Jones of Darlington at 10st 6lb. Officiating were Victor Loughlin as referee, and the three scoring judges Terry O'Connor, Howard Foster and John Keane. Despite Jones' renowned starting pace, he seemed slightly taken aback by the pace and power offered by the defending champion, as Anderson gave Jones no time to settle into the task. Jones' guard is a bit low for me and he'd do well to raise it a bit or he'll be undone from Anderson's right hand. The second has a combination of some 15 shots unanswered from Jones to let him know the task that is in front of him. But fair play to the Darlington lad, he spears his own jab out with speed and accuracy, though they seem to be just half a step too far away to trouble the Fifer. The meatier shots are all coming from the Fifer with Jones' face coming in for most of the attention and his rib cage will be sore this morning. You have to give credit to the lion hearted Jones, he takes a shellacking from Anderson in the fifth but doesn't buckle where a lesser man would have folded before now. Indeed he (Jones) comes back with his own shots to the champion, but they're not heavy enough to concern Anderson. Round six is demonstrating bravery on the part of the Darlington man which is possibly too much for his own good, he really is taking some heavy shots but gets a respite in the seventh as his gum shield comes out! Jones uses this round to throw everything he's got at the champion, a lot of them are missing as he's almost punched himself out, but has he got heart? You better believe he has! Both boxers seem to take a breather (and who can blame them) in the eighth, as this has been fought with pace and stamina bordering on superhuman. Only after then end of the ninth does Jones slump to the stool, having foregone it in all the previous rounds, this only underscores the effort which he's put into the fight. Jones gets a standing count in round ten, as he's drained himself of energy with his efforts and slumps again onto the stool for a meagre minute's respite, before resuming the fray in the penultimate round. In this he's slowed somewhat, unsurprisingly with his efforts, and is now easier for Anderson to tag. Fortunately for the courageous Jones, Anderson too is tiring and his shots don't carry the same venom as they'd have done earlier. At this point I really wanted Jones to see this through to the end if only to reward his courage, but referee Victor Loughlin did call it off in the last minute of the last round to deny him that satisfaction. Though in truth, he (the referee) did the right thing for the well being of a young man who will have come through a battle with plaudits to match his bravery. The decision rendered the judges scoring superfluous, but I suspect the lion's share would have gone to the home man in any event, but that takes nothing away from the performance of a real warrior from the North East of England. The crowds disappeared into the night to leave two bouts to close the show, one of which was to provide the “ugly” side of boxing. Nathan Brough (10st 4lb) of Liverpool is a very stylish boxer whose opponent Alex Stoda (10st 8lb 8oz) from Wisbech showed the flaw he seems to have in his character of allowing the red mist to descend over him when the opponent Brough, was patently more skilful. He (Stoda) gave Brough a less than tender kiss of the Glasgow variety, which resulted in his disqualification in the second round. Both these boys were on the undercard of Barry Morrison and Colin Lynes in Motherwell, but it is obvious that Brough didn't see what Stoda had brought to that show that night, where he (Stoda) and Mark Hastie were embroiled in a scrappy affair which would have indicated what sort of fighter he is. Brough's family were quick to remonstrate with Stoda at the decision, suggesting a wee potential for extra action post the bout. However, common sense prevailed! The show closed with John Donnelly (8st 13lb) of Liverpool in a four-rounder with Sergei Rozakhmens (9st 12lb). This bout was never tidy, but was exciting with both boxers giving their all. Donnelly will be pleased with the points win since he had to take a count in the final round, but his work earlier was enough to see him through on Kenny Pringle's card. A great nights entertainment provided Sky with action and excitement, and was the second part of my boxing trilogy in three days with Fort William on Thursday for the opening of Lochaber Phoenix, Kirkcaldy on Friday and Saturday at Linwood for Braveheart promotions first open show.

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