Zulqy's nightmare debut scares the audience

Zulqy Rehman from Glasgow made his debut at Steve McGuire's second outing as a promoter, at the Gilvenbank Hotel in Glenrothes last night and opened the show against Phil Boyle of Middlesbrough in what should have been a fairly innocuous six-twos. The reality was that after 1:26 of the second round the Glasgow Asian boxer was sparked by a left hook from the "Smoggie" and crashed with a sickening (and very loud) crack at the back of his skull on the canvas.

Referee Paul Graham of Fauldhouse dispensed with the count, and the two doctors ringside and the paramedics were into the ring faster than speeding bullets. It was abundantly obvious to even those of us without medical knowledge that the likeable Rehman was in serious trouble. This was a classic example of why the sport we love requires these strict medical criteria to be met before a show can begin. Rehman and the medical staff in attendance were transferred to the A&E department of the hospital and the rest of the show postponed until their return - fortunately bearing better tidings of the boxer's well being!

Without dwelling too long on that side of the bout, it had started at pace with Boyle unsettling the debutant with raw aggression and the Smoggie's hooks were proving a painful baptism to the world of professional boxing for Rehman. He (Rehman) was boxing or trying to box with his jab leading, but seemed to raise his head whenever he speared it out. Too much of a target for Boyle and he capitalised on it in the second with his hook. 

The mandatory time off from boxing will give Zulqy a long time to consider if this is to be his chosen profession, as his debut will be one he'll want to forget. If indeed he can remember anything about it which is doubtful. Even those fans watching through "beer glass binoculars" were visibly distressed at his sudden departure from the bout in such dramatic circumstances.

The bouts restarted after about an hour and a half (though in truth it seemed an eternity) with the return of the essential medical provision and the good news on Rehman.

Richard Barclay of Glasgow was in against Newcastle's Dougie Curran in the second bout of the programme in what rapidly became a slugfest of the lightweight variety. Both boys gave their all in this wee bout with no quarter asked or given. Hooks from both were dominating the proceedings with Curran taking the opening couple of rounds before his exertions took their toll on his stamina. At that point southpaw Barclay's better boxing skills took over and he scored with the cleaner shots, his stiff left zoning in on Curran and making it's mark on the Geordie. The scoring at the end was spot on, as the 58-57 margin to Barclay was right on the money. Even Curran's mum who was vociferous in her support for her boy, didn't argue with the outcome.

The bill-topper was local man Stuart Green and ever-ready Johnny Greaves of East Ham in London. This initially was like the wrestling I used to watch on TV with Kent Walton commentating on a Saturday afternoon (that really ages me since it was in black and white), except this didn't have the theatrics or pantomine of those performances.

Tempers were frayed from the outset, and in truth it was not a pretty sight. Steve McGuire was reading the riot act to Green between the rounds and telling his man in no uncertain terms to box and get a step back from Greaves as the two of them were like Siamese twins they were so close. These two would have fought anywhere that had more than three square feet of space much less the ring and the "sweet science" has turned a bit sour with the basic skill which both possess, being replaced with unalloyed brutality.

The crowd were enjoying it, but not the purists as Paul Graham earned his fee keeping the both of them on the right side of the rules. In the penultimate round "Greavsie" (who's no "Saint") gets a nick over his left eye but it is no hindrance to him since Green is now trying to work some scoring opportunities rather than rough him up. Fortunately sanity prevailed in the last round with them touching gloves before the final salvo.

Green won this with a score of 80-73, which I suppose is within the rules. In truth though, I'd have been hard pushed to give either 10 points for some of the rounds, on the basis of the wrestling action in a boxing ring.