Hill looks immaculate against Concepion
Elsewhere on the packed five hour Troxy bill, Southampton’s Tony Hill destroyed Kevin Concepcion at 2.48 of the first round.
(Images copyright Leigh Dawney Photography)
Hill (11st 9lbs 9oz) quickly gained his sixth win out of seven when he rocked Concepcion (11st 9lbs) with a left to the head.
He rapidly followed up catching the defenceless former prospect with another left and a hard right hand which dropped the Leicester man.
Although rising quickly, Concepcion foolishly wanted to scrap which brought the abrupt ending after being caught with further lefts and rights to his head as he was trapped on the ropes in a neutral corner.
Concepcion reassured onlookers by repeating 'I’m okay, I’m okay'.
The truth is he wasn’t and a once promising career now lays in tatters after being stopped for the third time in his last six fights.
As Concepcion left the ring Hill faced the cameras. At 24 years-old and a big ticket seller he may be one to watch in the future.
Martin Welsh moved up to 8-0 in less than 18 months in the paid ranks by outpointing Billy Smith over six rounds.
Welsh (10st 12lbs) moved well throughout, using his jab and often finding the head of Smith (10st 12lbs) Smith rarely threw anything back apart from catching Welsh to the head in round five.
Welsh, at 29 years, is fighting often at the rate of eight fights in 18 months since turning professional and won every round at 60-54. I wish all boxers would fight at his frequency.
I know it's wishful thinking in the age where TV and money dictate everything.
20 year-old Lewis Pettitt trained by Sam Webb’s guide Alan Smith 3-0 beat late replacement Robert Deakin inside two rounds. The well supported Pettitt (9st 3lbs) was keen to match Deakin’s red hair with a reddened face.
Deakin (9st 5lbs) shipped some serious shots including two separate four punch combinations in the first round, and he completed the task at 1.07 of the second after six unanswered punches rocked him.
Two further head shots saw him trapped on the ropes as referee Phil Edwards stepped in. Pettitt has now appeared twice on Webb’s championship bills and will gain vital big event experience and exposure
Debutant Joe Hughes an ABA light-welterweight champion was left out in the cold for the Commonwealth Games which pushed him to pugilism.
Hughes (10st 3lbs 8oz) looked in fine shape and started brightly against Jason Carr getting close and using his speed and jab to good effect.
The 20 year-old Malmesbury fresh face also produced some eye catching ducking in left hooks which reminded me of the early Mike Tyson.
He then dropped off the pace and became a little one dimensional which lost him the final round of six but he ran out a 60-55 winner.
(Images copyright Leigh Dawney Photography)
