Widnes undercard: O’Donnell impresses in light-welterweight debut

John O’Donnell registered an impressive fifth round stoppage over Hungary’s Robert Balogh in his light-welterweight debut on the undercard of John Murray-Gary Buckland in Widnes on Friday night.

O’Donnell, who recently relinquished his Commonwealth welterweight crown, scaled a trim 10st 1 1oz in his first outing since his stoppage victory over Tom Glover in September. Balogh (10st), who entered the ring with a 7-1-1 record, gave it a go in the opening round but was handicapped by height, reach and speed disadvantages and quickly got on his bike.

The loose limbed O’Donnell pursued Balogh around the ring unleashing fast and accurate one-twos, upstairs and down, which had the Hungarian contemplating whether he should take a knee in round two. John is a joy to watch when in full flow but lacks a dig to complement his superlative range of skills.

O’Donnell continued to do as he pleased, which included holding and hitting as referee Michael Alexander turned a blind eye until Balogh’s corner berated the Doncaster official to take action in the fourth. O’Donnell continued to wade away with unanswered combinations in the fifth in this terribly one-sided affair. After another succession of punches left Balogh notably wilting Alexander wisely stepped in at 2.56 of round five to hand O’Donnell his 23rd win in 24 starts.

The Irishman will be an interesting addition to a competitive 10st domestic division and could be involved in some good matches against the likes of Paul McCloskey, Ajose Olusegun and Jason Cook.

In the show opener, Northenden’s Liam Cullen (13st 13) gave away a stone to Mansfield’s winless Mark Lewis (14st 13) but still ran out an easy points winner in this cruiserweight match scheduled for four. Male model Cullen sensibly boxed from the outside and picked off Lewis with some sharp combinations as the Mansfield trier trudged forward but seemed incapable of letting his hands go.

Apart from taking a couple of rights in round two, it was one-way traffic and a good right from Cullen knocked Lewis off-balance in the third. Mark, who is still to register a win in eight pro fights, was getting busted up and finished the fight bleeding heavily from the nose.

The impressive Cullen judged the distance well, turned his heavier opponent impressively and fired-off some eyecatching combinations in twos and threes. The Manchester prospect, trained by Joe Gallagher, earned a 40-36 points win from referee Michael Alexander and is now 2-0.

Another prospect who maintained his unbeaten record was Newcastle’s Martin Ward (8st 12) who decisioned the awkward Mo Khaled (9st) over four-rounds at super-bantamweight to go 6-0. The Ingle-trained Khaled, coming off an excellent win over the previously unbeaten Stephen Russell last time out, began well and shaded a lively opener by getting through with the cleaner and straighter punches as they both frantically traded.

Ward’s timing improved in the second as he hunted the squat Khaled’s body who was less successful in his attempts to counter Martin coming in. As the fight progressed, it became evident how much physically stronger Ward was. He practically bullied Khaled around the ring who was gulping for air in round three in his efforts to keep the Newcastle prospect at bay.

To his credit, Mo dug in and took the fight to the imposing Ward in the final round and banged away to the body of his taller opponent. Ward continued to walk Khaled down though and an uppercut in the final seconds hurt Khaled who was desperately tired at the close. Ward earned a 40-36 verdict from referee Howard Foster which was a little harsh on Khaled. I had it closer at 39-38 but the right man got the nod.

Johnny Rocco (10st 1 80z) boxed nicely behind the jab to outpoint Northampton journeyman Gavin Deacon (10st 4 8oz) over six rounds at light-welterweight. Both fighters threw plenty of leather but because they each lack power at times this fight resembled a sparring session.

Rocco’s work was sharp and accurate and two right hands and left hook snapped Deacon’s head back in round two. Johnny introduced some venom into his work in the fourth and a left hook – right hook combination contained more power but Deacon soaked it up and replied with an occasional right hand.

The action was largely repetitive, Deacon coming forward and Rocco peppering him with the jab and one-twos. In the closing moments of the fight a clash of heads left Deacon with a nasty cut to his right eyelid but Gavin managed to last to the final bell before conceding a 59-56 verdict from referee Alexander. The neat and tidy Rocco is now 15-2 (2) but needs to work on his power. Deacon, who has won only one of his last ten, slips to 6-18-1.

The returning Paul Truscott, appearing in his first fight since failing to regain the Commonwealth featherweight title against John Simpson in September, went over old ground by outpointing Nikita Lukin over six rounds at super-feather. Truscott had previously decisioned the Ukrainian over the same trip in Dublin in 2007 and comfortably repeated the trick here in Widnes.

Truscott, who looked well toned at 9st 8lbs, produced some typically classy work behind a solid jab and landed a series of accurate body shots to keep Lukin (9st 6 8oz) on the defensive. The Ukrainian was getting outboxed and resorted to trying to rough Truscott up with some careless use of the head which saw him warned twice by referee Howard Foster.

Paul, who does mark up easily, bled from the mouth and was swollen underneath his right eye but never looked unduly troubled, He produced his most dominant session in round five, drilling Lukin with hard, single shots which backed him to the ropes. The Middlesbrough stylist finished the fight impressively, too, tripling his excellent jab and drilling Lukin with hooks to head and body to seal a 59-55 points win.

In the show closer, it sadly looks to be the end of the road for the former British featherweight champion Jamie McKeever. The likeable scouser, who was returning to the ring after a two year hiatus to dedicate his career to his terminally ill mother, suffered his fifth straight loss to Newcastle novice Dougie Curran.

McKeever (9st 4) endured a nightmare start in this four rounder after suffering two first-round knockdowns. Jamie was floored by a right hand from Curran (9 st 3) in the opening minute and bundled over immediately afterwards by a left hook.

Jamie battled back strongly and rattled Curran with some rights of his own in the final session but was never going to overturn the defecit and conceded a 38-36 reverse from referee Foster. Curran is now 3-2.