Skegness Brawler shatters Hunt’s unbeaten record

Ben Lawler inflicted a shock sixth round stoppage over the previously unbeaten Rob Hunt to claim the vacant British Masters welterweight title at the Moat House hotel in Stoke on Paul Dykes’ dinner show on Thursday night. There seemed little evidence to suggest that an upset was possible as the 'Skegness Brawler', on a six-fight losing streak which included a points reversal (Pts 6) against Hunt in Wolverhampton in September, entered the ring accompanied by trainer Carl Greaves.

Hunt (10st 5 ¼ lbs), unbeaten in 15 going in (14-0-1), was immediately placed under pressure by the onrushing Lawler (10st 7lbs) who banged away to the body. Rob responded with a long right which punctured Ben’s guard but was put down by a short left hook near his own corner. Hunt rose at three but was forced to hold after shipping a big right from Lawler who responded to Carl Greaves’ shouts of “he’s gone!” Rob survived to the bell but his confidence had been visibly dented.

Things went from bad to worse for Hunt when he was floored again at the start of round two, this time from a short right and he also had to take a glancing left hook as Lawler unsportingly landed a blow when his opponent was down. Rob rose quickly once more, but his upright stance and lack of head movement made him an inviting target for Lawler who couldn’t miss with his sledgehammer shots launched from distance. Ben continued to swarm all over Hunt and a giant left hook decked Rob again at the end of the session. Referee Terry O’Connor appeared to gesture with his hands that he was waving things off but thought better of it as Hunt regained his feet. O’Connor took a long look at Rob before showing him back to his corner as the bell sounded to end another nightmare round for the Stafford man.

Hunt came out for the third with a bloodied nose but that was the least of his troubles as he was now a mile behind on O’Connor’s scorecard. He did manage to chalk-up his first round however by adjusting better to Lawler’s onrushes and countering with occasional jabs and left hooks. Rob’s leaky defence meant that he still had to ship some meaty shots from Lawler but he managed to claim the centre of the ring in round four and produced some more consistent work off his jab. Hunt continued his gradual improvement in the fifth as Lawler’s work became predictable and ragged.

The fight was finely balanced at the halfway point as Hunt appeared to be on track to recover from his disastrous opening. It proved to be a false dawn though when he was nailed by a huge right hook which wobbled him in a neutral corner. Referee O’Connor immediately waved things off at 1.35 of round six, sparking loud cries of disbelief from Hunt’s supporters and the fighter himself. Rob’s legs clearly stiffened, and he looked unsteady on them afterwards, but O’Connor’s decision to hastily intervene when he had earlier given Rob every chance looked harsh. This isn’t to detract from what was an excellent performance from Lawler though. Promoter Dykes revealed afterwards that he is in discussions to stage a rubbermatch between the pair at this same venue in February.

Coventry’s Llewellyn Davies (12st 11lbs) caught the eye as he stopped Plymouth’s Nathan Brook (12st 7lbs) in round three of their light-heavyweight encounter scheduled for four-three’s. Davies, who refers to himself as ‘The Blessed One’, enfered the ring wearing a red bandit mask and cut an intimidating figure alongside the fleshy Brook. Llewellyn dominated the first, punishing Brook’s ribs with some thudding body shots and mixed things up in the second, this time peppering Nathan with jabs and left hooks before returning his attention to the body.

Davies’ trainer Oliver Harrison asked for more inbetween rounds and the Coventry man obliged by notably stepping things up at the start of the third. Two rights to the side of the head troubled Brook and a follow-up burst placed Nathan under siege in a neutral corner which saw referee O’Connor intervene after 42 seconds of the round. Llewellyn celebrated jubilantly as if he’d just won a British title but he’ll have far more testing assignments than this. Davies improves to 5-0 and has now stopped his last three whereas Brook has still to go the distance in his fledging career as he slipped to 1-2.

In the show opener, Leek southpaw Andy Keates (9st 5 ½ lbs) made a winning debut after he outpointed Dan Carr (9st 8 ½ lbs) from Trowbridge in a super-featherweight clash over six-twos. The well-supported Keates showed no signs of nerves as he purposefully strode to meet Carr in the centre of the ring and he connected with a solid right hook in the opener. Carr, who was repeatedly warned by referee O’Connor for careless use of the head, inflicted a knick to Keates’ left eyebrow in round two but Andy seemed unruffled as he continued to find the target with some crisp shots.

The winless Carr (now 5-0) didn’t let the youngster have it all his own way and he enjoyed his best moment when nailing Keates with a lead right through the middle in round three. Keates, who facially looks like a young Mark Kaylor, was generally sharper throughout and showed good awareness to turn Carr on the ropes and drill him with a right hook to the head in the final session and seal a 59-56 verdict from O’Connor.