Foster powers to upset European title triumph

Stephen Foster Jr lifted the recent gloom amongst Hatton Promotions with an upset third round stoppage over Armenia’s Levan Kirakosyan to capture the European super-featherweight crown at Bolton Arena last night.

The hard-hitting Kirakosyan had been the scourge of Britain’s 9st 4lbs operators with previous victories over Carl Johanneson (twice) and Scott Lawton in two separate European title reigns. In Foster however, the 37-year-old Armenian was provided with more stubborn opposition and after absorbing some early pressure the Salford man dished out some punishment of his own to dramatically turn the tables in the third.

Few gave Foster a realistic chance of winning beforehand but if Stephen was going to prevail it was always likely that he was going to have to weather some anxious moments, particularly early. And so it proved. The squat Kirakosyan (9st 3lbs 4oz) attacked in typically bullish fashion from the opening bell, sinking in some solid shots to the body which forced Foster (9st 3lbs 9oz) to hold early on. Stephen tucked up well though and responded with a left hook counter towards the end of the first round to demonstrate that he was not overawed by the sizeable task in front of him.

The second round was much more evenly contested. Kirakosyan, now knicked by the left eye enjoyed initial success with a right hand but was rattled by a flurry from Foster who was getting his shots off impressively, appearing to trouble the champion with a left hook.

Both men had felt the other’s power and it was Foster’s turn to withstand a mini-crisis when he was stunned by three right hands from Kirakosyan. The Armenian was now firmly in the ascendency as he bundled Foster to the canvas which earned him a rebuke from Italian official Adrio Zannoni. Upon the resumption of the action Foster immediately responded with a beautifully picked left hook which nailed Kirakosyan bang on the button despatching the stunned champion to the canvas.

Kirakosyan, his right arm outstretched and frozen by his side, seemed glued to the mat as he attempted to desperately haul himself upright before the count of ten. Kirakosyan managed it, just, but was still unsteady on his legs and referee Zannoni signalled the end to give Foster, now 28-2-1 (18), the most satisfying win of his stop-start career.

In the chief support, Anthony Crolla (9st 3lbs 6oz) overcame a slow start to eventually overwhelm Andy Morris (9st) in round seven in this all-Manchester battle for the vacant English super-featherweight title. Morris was busier earlier on, hooking off the jab and displaying good punch variety. Crolla’s work in comparison was somewhat laboured but slowly but surely Anthony’s steady persistence started to take its toll on Morris after the halfway mark in this ten-rounder.

Despite banking most of the early rounds it was becoming harder for Morris now whose right-eye was rapidly closing and he also had to contend with blood seeping from his nose. Signs that the tide was turning became more apparent in round six when Crolla enjoyed success to head and body as Morris started to wilt. Andy’s earlier mobility and snap had now deserted him and he was forced to stand his ground which suited the stronger, fresher Crolla down to the ground.

Morris connected with a good right at the start of the seventh but Crolla simply shook off the effects of the punch and continued with his own persistent offensive. Suddenly a left hook to the body seemed to take everything out of Morris. Andy contemplated going down but decided to retaliate, in hindsight the former British featherweight champion may have been better off taking a knee.

Seizing the opportunity with his opponent in difficulty, Crolla attacked with a two-fisted barrage with hooks, uppercuts and body shots punishing the helpless Morris (now 19-4) who was totally spent which prompted a well-timed intervention from referee Dave Parris with nine seconds remaining in the round.

Crolla, who was trailing by two, three, and six points on the judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage, never seemed unruffled and executed the gameplan set by trainer Joe Gallagher perfectly which ultimately paid off. Both fighters have previously suffered close points losses to current British champion Gary Sykes but it is the improving Crolla, now 19-2 (7), who looks set to land a rematch with Sykes in the new year.

Earlier in the evening, St.Helens' former ABA champion Craig Lyon romped to his first professional title when he forced Sheffield's Ross Burkinshaw to retire on his stool at the end of the fifth round to claim the vacant English bantamweight crown. The swarming Lyon was in control from start to finish and floored Burkinshaw inside the opening 30 seconds with a glancing left hook.

At times it was a little too easy for Craig who often stopped to admire his work after hammering the lanky Burkinshaw to the body. Ross refused to fold though and Lyon’s work became a little more ragged in the fourth. Trainer Glyn Rhodes tried to install some self-belief into Burkinshaw inbetween rounds by claiming that Lyon was “knackered” and Ross faired slightly better in the fifth as he managed to bloody Lyon’s nose.

Burkinshaw’s slight improvement wasn’t enough to satisfy Rhodes though, who after receiving a half-hearted acknowledgement from Ross that he was willing to continue, signalled to referee Terry O’Connor that he was withdrawing his fighter to preserve him for another day. The all-action Lyon improves to 12-0 (4).

Manchester featherweight Rhys Roberts, trained by Brian Hughes, impressed when recording a rare stoppage win over hapless Spanish import Manuel Sequera. The visitor, stopped eleven times previously, was troubled by Roberts’ speed in the opener and a lightening fast combination ending in a right hand dumped Sequera on the mat at the start of round two.

The fleshy Spaniard rose but was soon despatched to the floor again following another two-fisted attack and Howard Foster signalled the end at the 2.25 mark. Roberts improves to 11-0 and looks to have plenty of talent to go with his speed.

Blackpool cruiser Matty Askin improved his unbeaten record to 8-0 with a shut-out (60-54) points victory from referee Steve Gray over Doncaster's strong but crude Jon Anthony. Fellow unbeaten Jack Perry extended his unbeaten run to 14 (13 wins and a draw) by earning a 40-36 points win over Ben Lawler from referee Gray in their light-welterweight contest.