LIVE FROM RINGSIDE - York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, Theophane gets the nod
Author: Michael Angelo Serra
June 21st 2009
York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England
On a Miranda Carter show at the famed York Hall, Miranda celebrated her first year as a promoter in style as she put on an excellent show featuring World rated Ashley Theophane amongst others on fathers day.
Scott Douglas {Chatham} v Jamie Norkett {Newark}
Result: Douglas won points
Douglas forced the action to begin with pushing Norkett back, outworking Jamie who kept falling short with his shots, though he did manage to back Douglas up in the second, his success was short lived, as Douglas {11st 13lbs} continuously came forwards, and started to load up more so with his shots in the third, one right that Douglas did land prompted Norkett to look at Douglas as if to say "your not hurting me"
The fourth saw Norkett {12st} covering up on the ropes soaking up more leather for his troubles as Douglas continued to score, Norkett did however manage to land a left hook to Douglas head but simply wasn't busy enough and dropped a 39-37 points decision on referee Ken Curtis scorecard.
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Kevin Lilley {Rainham} v Ryan Toms {Ruislip}
Result: Toms won fourth round ko
Lilley began by scoring with good straight shots, as Toms {11st 2lbs} countered, one combination made Lilley get on his bike, Toms upped his work rate as Lilley looked a little tired as his work took on a rather ragged look, by the end of the third Lilley was backed to the ropes as Toms was becoming dominant even more so, the final session saw both get into a brawl as it was Toms who was backed up to begin with, however Toms turned his man and had Lilley {11st 4lbs} backed up and suffering a badly bloody nose, where he worked him over with both hands to head and body, one big left hook to Lilley's body sent him to the canvas where referee Hines tolled the fatal ten as Lilley was counted out at 2:19 of the final session.
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Lee Cook {Morden} v Mark McColouch {Buckinghamshire}
Result: Cook won points
Lee Cook took on Mark McCulouch over six three's at light welter. In the opener Mark came out fast exerting himself, forcing Cook to circle as Mark smashed a left hook onto Cook's chin bowling him over for a count.
Mark continued to pressure Lee, even backing Cook {9st 12lbs} to the ropes, staggering Cook with a right hand that sent Lee almost over a second time, he did well to stay on his feet and gamely came punching back, as Mark began to look very tired due to the previous three minutes action but he had clearly done enough to win the opening couple of rounds.
The next couple of rounds saw Cook come back into the fight as he began to get into a rhythm, even getting through with a solid right to Mark's chin, Cook looking the more composed came on more so as {9st 11lbs} was tiring, but he managed to open a cut over Lee's left eye, but the blood was coursing down the side of his face, the fifth was hard fought and was difficult to say who won this particular session, the final session saw both look to assert themselves as they both got in close, Cook however managed to knock back Mcculugh with a left hook, but soon both were on the inside trading, though Cook seemed to have the better accuracy.
At the bell Cook got the decision but it proved unpopular with the crowd as they boo'd the scorecard of 58-56.
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Leon Williams {Streatham} v Mark Nilsen {Sale}
Result: Williams won points.
In his second pro fight, Leon Williams came out looking to impress his fans, Williams almost Tyson like in his ring attire and style backed up Nilson to begin with, but Williams took a solid right to the midsection.
The pattern continued as Williams {13st 13lbs} came forwards catching Nilsen {13st 5lbs} but also missing at times also, though when he did land it was his bigger punches that earn't Nilsen's respect, as a mixture of uppercuts and hooks met the intended target, even managing to cause a gash high up on Nilsen's forehead, on the way to winning a labouring decision, Williams was just doing enough each round and this was reflected in the score of 60-53 in his favour.
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Ashley Theophane {Kilburn} v Mark Douglas {Reading}
Result: Theophane won points
In the main event, a eight rounder World rated Ashley Theophane took on Reading's Mark Douglas at welter.
In the opener, both got in close but it was Theophane {10st 8lbs} who found himself backed up by the strong Douglas, however Ashley did score nicely inside with both hands to the body, also scoring a nice right hand to the chin, as the rounds went past the pace was hard fought through out and Douglas gamely fought on the inside for the best part of the contest, at times both men looked drained and later on Theophane looked spent as he merely fought by instinct alone, it did seem that Douglas {10st 7lbs} was getting the better of the exchanges, and was unfortunate to be a loser on this occasion, Theophane did look a spent force and gamely held on in the final session, and in doing so showed the heart of a champion as he gutted it out to the bell, and took a 77-75 points verdict on Ken Curtis card, the decision was met by a chorus of boo's and it was a closely fought contest through out, It seemed Ashley was a touch fortunate to get the nod, and a rematch may just be the best thing to clear up any confusion as to who won.
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John Wayne Hibbert {Stanford-Le-Hope} v Damien Jeffries {Stretford}
Result: Hibbert won 1st round ko
In the show closer of the afternoon, Hibbert {10st 12lbs}disposed of Jeffries with ease, from the bell Hibbert showed a solid jab, as Jeffries {10st 3lbs} backed away, one combination backed up the Stretford man soon after, before landing the finisher, a right hook to the body that made Jeffries sink to the canvas to take the full count from referee Jeff Hinds, five seconds shy of the bell to end the opener.
So all in all, a great promotion and Miranda Carter celebrated her first year in boxing in style, along with some good matchmaking from Roy Hilder, also coincidentally I was just six days shy of celebrating my first year in the reporting sense of the word for the record.
So all in all a memorable afternoon.
Michael Angelo Serra reporting