Mayfair show needs a few more lights

'You always save the best for last'. At least a song says! Sadly not in the case of Mick Helliet’s Mayfair Millenium Hotel show.

Lee Duncan’s sparkling display set the bar high for the remaining two bouts and neither one could quite reach the skies.

Top of the bill saw a four-threes light-middleweight contest between Zimbabwe-born but Hackney-based Wayne Alwan-Alab 9-0 (1) and Stourbridge settled Kevin McCauley 4-12.

Alwan (11st 7 ¾lbs) came out to the blast of Rocky’s theme, but he didn’t quite show the warrior side of the much loved screen hero. This was a match that lacked all the blood and brawn of the Rocky films. There was no knockdowns, no crowd euphoria and I don’t anticipate anyone calling for a rematch just yet!

This was largely down to a below potential performance from a slightly flesh looking Alwan and a determined if not classy effort from McCauley (11st).

Kevin began the opening round by firing shots to a rather surprised looking Wayne who remained relaxed and came back with a good combination.

The first round was a prelude to a pattern that was quickly designed and for me was hard to score throughout. I gave this an even round.

In the second it was Alwan wanting to stay on the back foot and pick his shots while McCauley wanted an all out war. This took Wayne out of his stride costing him the round.

Again it was Kevin who began the third with all guns blazing and he appeared to be the harder puncher even though Alwan threw some good shots. It was Kevin’s quantity versus Alwan’s quality. I didn’t take my pick but scored it even.

McCauley came straight out in the final round and both men displayed a sense of urgency, which maybe explains why they didn’t make the time to touch gloves. As in the previous round it was McCauley who had the bigger shots in comparison with Alwan who had the better ones. This was Wayne’s best round but he came off the pace before he could press home an advantage.

A few boos rang our as referee Robert Williams scored it for Alwan 39-38. I had it a draw.

Both men posed for photos after and the good nature continued into the dressing room with both men agreeing to meet up for some sparring.

Okay, this was not a spectacle but to capture a moment like that reaffirms my notion that bigger isn’t always better.

A small show may not have mass media interest but it has a sense that boxing still has community and camaraderie.

Sandwiched in between a star and a slightly less bright affair was the worst fight of the night between super-bantamweights John Fernandez (1-0) and 107 fight Delroy Spencer.

The seasoned Wolverhampton-based Spencer (8st 11 1/2lbs) showed himself to be a wily old fox in keeping out of danger. It is not surprising men like Ashley Sexton who was in attendance couldn’t crush him. After all, the hammer has to connect with the nail for it to be laid.

Fernandez (8st 13lbs) and appearing in only his second paid outing just threw a couple of rights while, Delroy didn’t return.

To Spencer’s credit for a 41-year-old who is now in his 12th year as a professional he still has a decent nose. I wrongly presumed that a man who has lost 93 times would be a face bearing many marks of fighters' fists.

Rounds two and three were carried out in similar style: a lot of sounding out with little in the way of punches connecting. But Fernandez did make contact with several jabs.

In the final round the referee had enough of this bore and spoke to both men. I didn’t hear his words, but if I was the man in the middle I would have reminded them that the aim of the game was to hit and not get hit.

This bout displayed two men overly concerned with the latter.

Final score was 40-36 for Fernandez.

The other notable event at this show was a David Haye signed photograph going to the highest bidder in which the Hayemaker was proudly displaying his cruiserweight belts obtained at the expense of Jean-Marc Mormeck.

And this was an expensive night out if you wanted a seat at each table of ten.

I’m not convinced it was all worth the money.

But young Lee Duncan is still one bright light shining at the end of the tunnel.