The Birmingham boxing Column headed to Wolverhampton to see championship boxing promoted by Black Country Boxing Promotions at the Hangar event venue (18/10/19). The show had nine fights on the card with 4 fights being over 4 three minute rounds, 3 fights over 6 three minute rounds and a female fight over 4 two minute rounds. The main event was a WBO European title fight in the Bantamweight division contested over 10 three minute rounds. Contesting for the title was the home boxer Kyle Williams who was taking on Lonut Baluta for the title, Baluta was not eligible to win the title due to not making weight. There were three refs on the night Shaun Messer, Chris Deen and doing the main event was Michael Alexander and with the ring girl being the stunning Laura from Diamond ring girls the stage was set for a great night of boxing.
Fight 1 Clayton Bricknell v Stu Greener 9.12 4x3 10 Super Welterweight
Great first round of the night with Greener starting well and getting some good shots off Bricknell came back strong in the second part of the round with good combinations winning the round. Tough second round with Bricknell sustaining a cut above his right eye, both fighters went for it getting good shots off, Greener nicked this round for me. The third was another hard fought round by both fighters with both of them getting good shots off, would have to give this round to Greener. Bricknell started the final round strong but Greener seemed happy to exchange shots, a toe too toe round with Greener edging it.
Result Dexter - 37-39 Ref - 38-39 Greener wins on points
Fight 2 James Beech jr v Michael Mooney 9.9 4x3 10 Super Welterweight
Steady first round for Beech picking his shots well looking sharp. In the second Beech continued his good work using his jab well as he moved Mooney around the ring. The third was another nice steady round by Beech who picked his shots well, Mooney had a go back but it was still Beach’s round. Beech picked up the pace in the final round with everything coming off his fast jab, Mooney again had a go but Beech won the round with ease.
Result Dexter - 40-36 Ref - 40-36 Beech wins on points
Fight 3 Female fight Kirstie Bavington v Monica Atonik 10.4 4x2 10.4 Super Welterweight
Bavington started strong and banged in some heavy shots, her opponent had no answer and was in survival mode from there on in going down midway threw the round. She took a 8 count and some how managed to see the round out. The writing was on the wall in the second as Bavington blasted shots in with Atonik having no answer with the ref Shaun Messer stopping the fight 1 minute 20 seconds into the round.
Result Bavington wins 2nd round stoppage
Fight 4 Shaka Thompson v Bryn Wain 11.8 6x3 11.12 Super Middleweight
Thompson picked his shots well in the first as he moved around the ring controlling the round. Thompson continued to pick his shots in the second catching him with a cracking right hand putting Wain down, he took a 8 count and continued but Thompson just banged in heavy combinations for the rest of the round. Thompson really put the hurt on Wain in the third who had to take some heavy combinations to see the end of the round.
Wain had a go back at the start of the forth but Thompson soon had him backing up to the ropes with some heavy combinations and great body shots. The fifth was another tough round for Wain as Thompson banged in combination after combinations, how Wain managed to see the end of the round is a credit to his training. In the final round Thompson continued to pick his shots well and put great combinations together, Wain just looking happy to hear the final bell.
Result Dexter - 60-53 Ref - 60-53 Thompson wins on points.
Fight 5 Antony Woolery v Elvis Dube 14.9 4x3 14.10
Heavyweight
Slow start to the round as both boxer felt each other out, Woolery took the round in the later stages as he stepped up the pace. Not much happening in the second but Woolery won it with the better work rate. The third was a back and forth round with both fighters getting shots off, even round. The final round was a real hard fought one with both fighters looking tired, another even round.
Result Dexter - 40-38 Ref - 39-38 Woolery wins on points.
Fight 6 Ashlee Eales v Mevin McCauley 11 4x3 11.6 Middleweight
Eales on his debut with a big support cheering him on took on the tricky McCauley shooting out jabs from a southpaw stance picking up the pace well to win the round. McCauley frustrated Eales using all his trick to take him out of his stride. Eales caught him with a cracking shot and from that point Eales dominated the round. Eales picked his shots well and looked like he was enjoying the fight, McCauley sustained a nasty cut above his left eye. McCauley had a good go in the final round but with his fans cheering him on Eales was not going to be denied winning the round with ease.
Result Dexter - 40-36 Ref - 40-36 Eales wins on points.
Fight 7 Sid Bowater v Artur Devayton 10.8 6x3 10.8 Super Welterweight
Devayton had not came to make up the numbers as he put together some nice combinations, Bowater got some good shots off of his own but this was Devaytons round. Bowater picked up the pace in the second getting some good combinations off and some heavy body shots in, Devayton fought back hard but it was Bowaters round. The third round was a back a d forth one with both fighters getting good shots off, Bowater finished the round the stronger to win it.
In the forth Bowater really put it on Devayton who fought back but he looked like he was fading as the round went on. Bowater started the fifth round the way he finished the forth, he was doing well until he caught Devayton with a real low blow which gave him time to rest, when they started again Bowater continued his good work with Devayton repaying the low blow by catching him low, Bowater won the round. Bowater left it all in the ring as he pressured and banged in great combinations with Devayton battling hard, both fighters caught each other with great shot near the end of the round.
Result Dexter 59- 56 Ref 59-56 Bowater wins on points
Fight 8 Conah Walker v Edvina Puplauskas 10.9 6x3 10.10 Super Welterweight
Walker started the first round fast to the delight of his cheering fans, he got some cracking combinations off and stroked his opponent for the whole round. Walker continued his fast pace in the second picking his shots well, he got a bit sloppy in parts as he seemed to be trying to hard but won the round with ease. In the third Walker worked away at Puplauskas head and body to the cheers of his supporters, great round for Walker.
Puplauskas was just taking a beating in the forth and at one point spat his gum-shield out to get a break. Walker continued to bang shots in and Puplauskas managed to see the round out but did not seem to want to be there. Round five saw Walker continue to bang heavy combinations but half way through Puplauskas came to life and got some cracking combinations off, this didn’t seem to effect Walker who continued to pour on the pressure. Walker got some great shots off in the final round banging in some eye catching shots until the final bell.
Results Dexter - 60-54 Ref - 59-55 Walker wins on points.
Fight 9 Main Event WBO Bantamweight European title Kyle Williams v Lonut Baluta 8.9 10x3 8.13
William’s started the first round well getting some good shots off, it was looking like an even round then Williams was caught with a cracking right hand. Williams went down but got to his feet took the count and saw the round out. Williams was getting caught with a lot of straight right hands in the second with him sustaining a cut above his left eye, Baluta won this round. The third was a better round for Williams but he was still getting caught with to many rights, Baluta’s round.
William’s moved well in the forth but everytime he got some good shots in he was caught with a eye catching right hand, William’s did finish the round the stronger, shared round. Williams started to pile on the pressure in the fifth but Baluta countered well and was still getting the right hand in Williams did seem to start having some joy as Baluta seemed to tire. Big clash of heads at the start of the sixth which really opened up the cut above Williams left eye. The doctor looked at it and said he was ok to continue, Williams poured on the pressure and was having a lot of joy, Baluta was still countering well but looked tired spitting out his gum shield.
Williams poured on the pressure at the start of the seventh but Baluta came back in the middle part, even round. Williams again started the round well but Baluta came back strong and finished the round better to nick it. In the ninth Baluta picked his shots well as Williams worked hard to get back into the fight, there was a glimmer of hope when Baluta had a point deducted for spiting his gum shield out again. The fil round was a blood, sweat and tears one with both fighters leaving it all in the ring, Baluta had another point deducted for again spitting his gum shield out, but both fighters battled hard right until the final bell.
Result Dexter - 93-96 Judge- Bence Kovacs - 92-95 Judge – Shaun Messer - 93-95 Judge – Terry O'Connor - 96-92 Baluta wins on a split decision.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Black Country Boxing put on a great show tonight and what a main event, this was the first time I had been to the Hangar event venue Wolverhampton and have to say it was a great venue for boxing. We start with the main event, what a fight, Williams was dropped in the first round and from there on in it was an up hill struggle for him. He fought his way back into the fight and showed great heart and determination especially after sustaining such a bad cut due to a clash of heads. Baluta showed he had not just came to make the numbers up and it was a shame for him that he came in overweight. Williams can walk away from this fight with his head held high and he will come again and I can see a big title around his waist in the next few years. The column will be there to report on his future success. Conah Walker really impressed me tonight with a high paced work rate and the way he worked the head and the body with great combinations. He idefinitely a star in the making with his big following. It was great to see Sid Bowater back in the ring getting a great win against a very good opponent, fingers crossed this is the start of big things for Bowater. Ashlee Eales was very impressive on his debut with a massive following behind him, very skilled fighter who the column will be keeping a very close eye on. Woolery was in a hard fight against Dubes and came though it getting the win, after his great display in the Ultimate boxxer I’m sure there are some big fights out there for him. Shaka Thompson was in sensational form tonight really showing off his skills with great shot picking and even scoring a knockdown, Thompson is defiantly one to watch. Kirstie Bavington got another great stoppage victory, from the moment she banged in a body shot her opponent looked like she did not want to be there. I think Bavington definitely needs a bigger challenge as she is at a much higher level than the fighters she is fighting, she is one of the leading lights in the female boxing scene in the Midlands and deserves to be fighting for titles. James Beech jr made easy work of Mooney in this tick over fight, he has announced that he will be fighting for the Midlands area super Bantamweight title in December which if he wins will make him a two weight area champion. I think a clash with the former English super Bantamweight champ Sean Davis would be a great opponent and test for the young fighter as if he could beat an opponent like that it would move him further up the ranks. Stu Greener really impressed me tonight on his debut, he took on the very skilled Clayton Bricknell winning on points. Bricknell fought hard in this fight but I think the cut he sustained effected him. The Birmingham boxing Column thanks Black Country boxing for having the Column at there show.