Walton hustles his way to win six by Tom Podmore Oct 27th 2007

Coventry super-bantamweight prospect Dougie Walton continued his unbeaten run with a repeat victory over Walsall survivor Delroy Spencer in a scrappy six-threes at the Burlington Hotel last night (October 26). These two had met at this Birmingham city centre venue at the end of February over six-twos, with Walton charging and bulling his way to a 60-54 nod from referee Terry O'Connor. This time, over the longer distance of six-threes, durable Spencer managed to share a round – although I honestly failed to see which one – before conceding defeat for the 58th time by a margin of 60-55 from Mr O'Connor (in charge of all three bouts). It was to prove a frustrating night for the aggressive, bull-like Walton, however, as Spencer tied him up when the former ABA semi-finalist tried to get his punches off on the inside. Seemingly only ever halted by Bristol's former Commonwealth champion Lee Haskins, Delroy, without his famed Jamaican flag shorts, never looked in any real danger of being stopped, though had to take one or two hard left hooks along the way. Thirty-nine-year-old Spencer – a former British Masters champion and English flyweight title challenger who holds a win over current English boss Chris Edwards – had boasted in the run-up to this 18-minute rematch that he would know too much for the former Schoolboy international. That turned out not to be the case. As ever, Walton (8st 11lbs) tore straight into the naturally smaller, shorter man, conceding five pounds in weight on the night, from the off – driving powerful left hooks to head and body from his thickset, powerfully-built legs. Whilst 71-fight Delroy offered little in way of offence, he occasionally popped out a jab and used every-inch of the ring to avoid the brutish, terrier-like attacks of flat-footed Pat Cowdell-trained Dougie in the second. Dougie continued to press on the front foot throughout the third, tagging Spencer, wearing gold shorts with the flag of Guyana on the left-hand side, with winging left hooks. Delroy, as ever, showed excellent defensive skills to block most of his opponents attacks whilst on the ropes. Mauling was the order of the fourth, with Errol Johnson-trained Spencer (8st 6lbs) instigated the majority of it. What little clean work done came from the strong Willenhall-based fighter – aimed mainly at the torso of the Black Country bantamweight. Every time 26-year-old Walton stormed in to attack in the fifth Delroy – a former two-time ABA runner-up for Pleck ABC – would grab hold tightly, tying his arms up. There was a lot of intent from the unbeaten super-bantam but clean punching came at a premium. Walton was still in hot pursuit of the 5ft 4in Spencer, 10-58-3 (1), in the final three minutes, lunging in with left hooks and looping rights. However, the Caribbean-rooted Walsall veteran spoiled inside and deservedly heard the final bell for the 61st time. Still unbeaten at 6-0-1 (1), Walton completed his second six-threes in a row and could be involved in a Midland Area or British Masters eight-stone-ten challenge in the next year. Stourbridge's Sam ‘The Man' Horton was another fighter to remain undefeated, improving to 6-0 (one quickly) with a 60-54 vote over Scunthorpe's Davey Jones on this Pat Cowdell-promoted charity dinner show. The pattern for the fight was set in the opening round: Horton bossing the action with a lengthy jab, often being doubled and even trebled, and following up with rights. Aggressive Sam has impressed in his professional outings to date, taking good scalps of Jon Foster (a bloody, give-and-take battle in Brierley Hill last November) and current British Masters light-middleweight boss Tony Randell – outpointed on Horton's debut in Walsall 13 months ago. Jason Shinfield-trained Jones, a former British Masters and Central Area title challenger, is starting to show the wear-and-tear of a tough five-year paid career that has seen him swap leather with the likes of Paul Smith, Mark Lloyd, Kevin Concepcion and Steve Bendall. As previously alluded, taller, stiff-hitting Horton (11st 11lbs) found his range immediately in the super-middleweight six-twos, reddening Nottingham-based Jones' face with double jabs, right hooks and uppercuts. By the second durable Davey, 30, was being forced into the corners as Sam's piston-like jab slammed into his well-worn face. A solid right hook to the ribs late in the session saw Jones grimace in pain. Twenty-fight Jones (11st 10lbs) showed more guile and adventure in the third, though was often punished by several stinging jabs and whipping right uppercuts from Sam, an ardent Birmingham City supporter, as he left himself open after attack. Jones started to move his head more in the fourth in an attempt to avoid the jab, but Errol Johnson-trained Horton cleverly switched the attack to the body, where Davey would try and block, and quickly brought his punches back to the head. The last two rounds saw the Grimsby-born fighter, now 8-11-1 (0), holding more – though he caught Horton a few times in the last two minutes as the Black Country puncher charged forward in search of an early finish. Horton could be back in action in late November. Karl Chiverton (11st 4lbs), Mansfield's former Junior ABA champion, was made to work hard by Pontefract veteran Peter Dunn (11st 2lbs), in pro outing 99, before getting a 58-56 nod from Mr O'Connor in a middleweight six-twos. Incidentally, I scored the give-and-take 12-minute fight a little closer at 58-57 to the Nottinghamshire portsider. Skilful southpaw Chiverton, who holds a win over reigning British Masters eleven-stone champ Tony Randell, had outpointed the same man in Nottingham five months ago – taking a 40-36 decision after pilling up the points with one-twos and counters. Aggressive determined and stocky ‘Dunny', a regular and popular performer in these parts, gave him a much sterner assessment this time around. The 21-year-old Matt Scriven-trained stylist started well, working exclusively behind his accurate southpaw jab. But Dunn, with Errol Johnson and Bob Plant in his corner, came back and got through with several looping rights in rounds two, three and four – Karl being forced onto the back foot for long periods of time. However, Chiverton, who's younger brother Charlie is 2-0 (1) as a pro, got his punches off quicker in the last two rounds, tattooing the 32-year-old Yorkshireman with his southpaw jab and two successive left uppercuts that sent spray flying from his head. Chiverton, now 7-1 (0), breathed a sigh of relief as his hand was deservedly raised by Birmingham official O'Connor.

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