Roman Greenberg was again less than impressive as he plodded to a routine points win over Southampton's Colin Kenna at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in Bayswater last night.
The much-hyped Greenberg looked good in places, but didn't get out of second gear very often, and if we are to believe the rumours that he may fight former Lennox Lewis foe Michael Grant before taking on a 'Top Ten' World rated heavyweight next time out' he will have to lose this lazy style he seems to have adopted if he wants to keep that zero intact on his record.
Kenna, the brother of former Blackburn and Southampton footballer Jeff, just didn't do enough to get Greenberg to come out of his comfort zone, despite lots of verbal encouragement from former ABA Champion Billy Bessey at ringside, although he did seem to hurt the Finchley based Israeli with a good uppercut in the seventh round. The only other time Greenberg was in any trouble was when his stool collapsed under his sixteen and a half stone frame at the end of fifth round.
Greenberg has fast hands and feet when he decides to put them to use but he seemed intent on throwing one punch and moving away, he did put Kenna down in the sixth round with a good right hook but didn't move up a gear to try and finish the obviously hurt Irishman off.
As with his last few fights the rounds seemed to merge into one after a while and Jeremy Beadle, Patron of the Philip Green Memorial Trust which the event was in aid of, managed to nod off during the latter rounds, whether that was the result of a bit too much wine with the dinner or the boxing is open to question.
Ian 'I am the weferee' John-Lewis scored it 78-74 which seems a bit generous to Kenna, although in some rounds there wasn't a lot of action.
Fight of the night was the all action war between Doncaster's John Anthony and Enfield based Ukranian Vadym Usenko. The Ukranian had a six inch height advantage which was compounded by Anthony ducking at every opportunity therefore forcing the Ukranian to club him behind the head on a number of occasions, at some points it was reminiscent of a Rocky movie.
Anthony came out for the first like a bull in a china shop and landed a massive right hook, which seemed to shock the Ukranian, but the big man's strength came into the fight and he just had too much power for Anthony who is scheduled to fight again on the 1st December against Neil Simpson for the British Masters Cruiserweight title.
Anthony just kept coming back though despite the clubbing rights that seemed to land at regular intervals and his toughness can not be doubted. Ian John-Lewis scored it 59-56 to the Ukranian who moves to 6-1, while Anthony falls to 5-7.
Daniel Thorpe seemed unlucky not to get the decision against the well-supported Mark McCullough making his second professional appearance, after a losing debut.
Thorpe appearing in his 91st fight and his third in October, seemed to land the better shots throughout the contest and I had him winning 58-56, while referee Ian John-Lewis scored it 59-56 to McCullough.
Another well attended show put together by Evans-Waterman promotions in aid of the Philip Green Memorial Trust, the auction alone raised almost £70,000.