A CHRISTMAS CRACKER: REPORT
picture by Lewis Moore INSTA @moore.photoss
Adam Thorn reports on an excellent show packed with winter wonders
The vacant English Super Lightweight Title was the main event and a brilliant battle where unbeaten former Southern Area champion Yaser Al Ghena faced also undefeated Midlands Area champion James Scarrott.
Scarrott won his previous title at welterweight, although he doesn’t look like a natural welter. The Worcester man entered the ring with an endearing, smiley demeanour, which at ringside we wondered after a few rounds of Al Ghena’s classy footwork and target finding, it was surely only a matter of time before that grin faded.
It never did. Scarrott is bastard hard, relentless and whenever Al Ghena looked in the ascendancy, for all his tricks and skill he gave Scarrott enough moments of success to make the fight more than close. For me, despite being a competitive contest Al Ghena edged almost all the rounds. No doubt he’ll defend himself saying his kidology was just that but he soaked up more than he perhaps could have.
A back and forth, went the distance even though both men looked to end it early. At the end I called it 98-92 to Al Ghena, though a delayed result had me thinking I’d gone mad. A majority decision with two 96-94 scores being read in each warrior’s favour was then wrecked for Scarrott when a 98-92 for Al Ghena gave him the English Title, deservedly.
Up against a man who was unbeaten and had twice the amount of bouts than him, Ross McGuigan was in the fight of his life for the vacant Southern Area Light Heavyweight Title against Chris Davies. The Peckham puzzler has only lost to very respectable opponents and has looked skilled though gun shy. A straight right down the pipe had his unbeaten opponent sitting on the canvas, and doing well to get up and see the first round out.
Davies rallied, sort of, but McGuigan smelled blood and dispelled any doubts about his willingness to put a fight to bed. The apron was Davies’ final lie down in the second, and although he got up, as he walked away from the referee he shook his head, signalling the end. A fantastic win for McGuigan which will hopefully spur him on to other big nights.
Former EBU European and IBO Intercontinental champion Lauren “Lionheart” Parker put on a masterclass in spite and skill. Her accuracy and work rate was far too much for an overmatched Kira Carter, who had no response to the relentless onslaught. Capitulating without much reply in the third of six.
In her last fight Parker found a non stop approach waned when Jamillette Vallejos bulldozed forward and will have to be wary of that as she moves towards more titles she deserves to be in. Carter offered no such response. Parker is classy and needs bigger stages to show it on; I’ll be watching.
Jordan Grannum, a man whose talent is undeniable but whose record doesn’t represent it as a professional opponent, decided after two rounds that he could, and did, defeat unbeaten Ed Chattey. Chattey was dropped in the third once Grannum had taken a look and it looked like The Brown Eagle decided not to finish it early, taking a deserved 39-37 and Chattey’s 0 home with him.
Camden’s “Caretaker”, Robbie Chapman almost apologetically put well supported Ed Harradine on his backside. Harradine, pumped up and over-eager, went hell for leather and eat leather too, walking on to a left hook. In only his second fight, Harradine bit down hard and fought back admirably to take a 39-37 win which no doubt he knows was one hell of a lesson in caution.
Sometimes the away fighters know teaching a lesson in losing to the novices will cause their phone to go a bit quiet, but as lightweight prospect Ahmed Hatim astutely said to me (in full respect of their endeavours), “it’s Christmas, they’re not expecting to work for a few weeks anyway”.
Jamie Bradley’s second pro fight was difficult to focus on. The Tottenham fan seemingly has half of White Hart Lane at York Hall, and looked like a real talent in the making with a 40-36 over game Kasey Bradnum.
Giorgio Isaila again looked good, the Romanian showed composure and venom, halting Connor Meanwell in the third of six. His third early victory in a row, and only 23, “Dracula” is picking up victims and can be moved on with confidence.
After a three year hiatus former English super lightweight champion Kay Prospere returned to action, looking sharp against the ever-ready Fonz Alexander with a 60-54 win.
Harvey Dykes remained unbeaten at heavyweight, which doesn’t look like a division he should naturally be in, outpointing a tough Ryan Labourn 40-36.
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