A busy Mickey Helliet is
chucking regular work Camden Council’s way, with Hellraiser Promotions putting
on an increasing number of cards at the Council-owned venue since the building
housed its first professional contests back in February last year.
Tonight’s six bout offering,
dubbed ‘Hands of Stone – Nerves of Steel’ was topped by an interesting trade
matchup which saw London welterweight prospect Ahmet Patterson outpoint
Nottingham’s Dale Miles over ten rounds for the British Masters Welterweight
belt (click here for full report).
Plenty of Sammy Cantwell fans
showed up to see the son of popular former British flyweight champion Mickey
make his professional debut against Frenchman Norredine Dahou (3-10-1).
Due in part to a shortage of
opponents at light flyweight, Cantwell, 25, only had four amateur contests but
is hoping to be busier as a pro and says he prefers the slower pace and longer
rounds.
But Cantwell (8st 3lbs) set a
fast tempo, dipping in and out with ones and two’s and not allowing Dahou (7st
12lbs) too many opportunities in an energetic opening round. He went on to
dominate the scoring shots throughout the second. A high work rate brought
cheers of encouragement from his fans.
Cantwell delivered some tidy
work, including a crisp uppercut and left hooks to the body, which kept Dahou
away, but the Frenchman resisted and didn’t stop coming forwards in the closer.
Referee Ian John Lewis scored 40-37 for Cantwell, whose progress will no doubt
be watched with interest. Father Mickey was in his corner.
The evening’s action was
kicked off a little later than scheduled by Cheshunt chappie Charlie Hoy (6-0)
against Bulgarian Valentin Marinov (4-3). An industrious start from Hoy (8st
5lbs) put Marinov (8st 9lbs) down with a right hand just 30 seconds in.
From then on, the Bulgarian
skidded around the ring like Bambi on Ice trying to avoid Hoy’s attacks, and
slipped over twice. Shouts from ringside to ‘get some tape on the boy’s boots’
didn’t seem to be heard by his corner during the break, after another knockdown
was counted by referee Marcus McDonnell.
Good shots from Hoy sent
Marinov down again twenty seconds in, and after more sliding around, McDonnell
waved it off at 56 seconds in. For me, both his corner, and the BBBoC
officials, should have made attempts to address the situation with Marinov’s
boots during the break. Hoy is
explosive, but won’t have learned anything by blasting out an opponent that
couldn’t stand up without being hit, let alone when under attack.
Carshalton’s Craig Whyatt
(5-0) wasn’t in the mood to hang about either. Entering the ring to Harry J All
Stars ‘Liquidator’, the lighweight ferociously blasted Stoke’s Marvin Campbell
(1-3) with hurtful hooks to the body, one of which out him down just before the
bell in the first.
Whyatt (9st 13lbs 8oz) was bit
smaller than Campbell (10st 2lbs), but had bags more tenacity and sent Campbell
down again near the start of the second with a swift right to the head. The
Stoke fighter rose gamely, but the writing was on the wall for Marvellous
Marvin as Whyatt’s quick hands sent him down again. This time, referee Ian John
Lewis rightly waved it off at 2.06.
Watford’s JJ Ojuederie
(14-8-1) made his return to the ring after a near two and a half year absence.
Back then, Ojuederie (14st 1lbs 4oz) campaigned mainly at light heavyweight,
and tonight he was well within the cruiserweight limit. His four three’s
against a much bigger Bulgarian Kristian Kirilov (15st 12lbs) was reduced to
four twos - a professional distance I’m not keen on, but understandable seeing
as Ojuederie should have really been in with a cruiser.
The weight difference was
evident when Kirilov came forward. He absorbed a couple of right hands over the
top from Ojuederie, which, if launched by a fully-fledged heavyweight, would
have knocked him down. This gave him confidence, and he let go with a hurtful
flurry before the bell, which made the round even.
Ojuederie kept away from
Kirilov in the second, content to avoid his forward march after being clipped
with a right hand. The Bulgarian was blowing a little, but continued to look
dangerous in the third. Ojuederie scored
when he jabbed from the back foot, and when stepping in very briefly to deliver
hooks to the body, which the Bulgarian laughed at.
Ojuederie had his most aggressive
round in the closer, and he unloaded regularly, causing a tiring Kirilov to
cover up, but the Bulgarian heavy did a little dance to signify he wasn’t hurt.
Marcus McDonnell scored 40-37 for Ojuederie. BoxRec News had it closer at
39-38.
Surrey’s Joe McDonald (2-0-1)
was a bit gun shy in the first couple of rounds against journeyman Didier
Blanche (0-6), but the Newcastle based Congolese, yet to win a fight, was a
difficult target to pin down. McDonald had some success with his shots when eh
threw in twos and threes.
Blanche (12st 3lbs) was twice
warned for holding in a scrappy third, but gradually McDonald (11st 13lbs 8oz)
warmed into it and got to him, putting together some good body shots and upping
the tempo in the closing round to send Blanche down - ruled a slip by Referee
Marcus McDonnell, who scored 40-37 for McDonald.
Camden Council shouldn’t have
to wait too long for the next boxing instalment. Casual boxing fans should get
themselves down there. (Source)
