Belfast's Wilton gets Holiday Inn win and targets Britain's best

Belfast flyweight Luke Wilton (pictured) is eager to share the ring with Britain’s finest and the 23-year-old racked up another impressive victory, on Saturday May 28 in the Holiday Inn.

“Bring on the winner of the Paul Edwards v Chris Edwards fight,” said Luke.

“I think Chris will win it and I’m ready for it as my next fight. I’m going to be ringside for that one. I think I’d have beaten Sexton on his last performance as well and we wanted to fight him on the Haye-Klitschko show but he already has an opponent.”

Victim on this occasion, Bulgaria’s Salim Salimov, seemed competent enough in the early stages and used his height and reach advantages effectively to keep Luke off balance with his jab. Wilton has showed maturity in his recent performances, stepping in behind his own range finder and picking the assaults rather than rushing forward and smothering his work as was commonplace in earlier outings. Working with Brian Magee’s trainer Bernardo Checa is certainly helping to mould a more compact style and the Panamanian is pleased with what he sees in Luke’s progress.

“I’m pleased because he followed the instructions that we gave him in the corner. The opponent was tall so we told him to go to the body. I think another one or two fights and he’s there [at British title level]. I would like to see Luke fighting more often because there is a big gap between fights at the moment. A few rounds in the bank is always good too and he is fit and works hard in the gym. There is plenty of room to learn and improve.”

Salimov’s rangy technique was causing minor issues until the third round when Wilton burrowed in close and doubled a left hook to the away man’s stomach. Salim hit the deck and tried to stretch his torso out to relieve the pain. Referee for the evening Paul McCullough tolled out the count and when the Eastern European failed to rise in the required time frame, he was stopped at 0-34 of round three. Wilton was obviously delighted post-fight and pleased that this opponent had offered more of a threat than the last man he faced at the Holiday Inn. Sali Mustafov failed to see out the opening round on that occasion.

“The guy came to fight tonight so fair play to him, he was strong,” added ‘Winky’. “My style has changed because sometimes I was taking shots that I didn’t need to take and boxing is a skill or an art. I thought the opponent would go the distance and I wanted the eight rounds. I’m punching harder and I’m still young, just getting used to the weight now and sitting down on my punches.

“I love the body punching and I used to enjoy watching Ricky Hatton landing those double left hooks to the body. It’s a lot sorer getting hit down there than up in the head.”

Jane Wilton’s Belfast Promotions organisation and BBBofC matchmaker Gareth Thompson are commendably trudging forward with shows despite a lull on the domestic scene of late. This bill clashed with the Champions League final but that did not deter a healthy flock of punters who roared their heroes on to success. One such competitor was Tony Nellins who had made a winning start to his pro career last December on the Martin Lindsay-John Simpson undercard. Nellins is a big Mike Tyson fan and even has a tattoo of ‘Iron Mike’ on his back. His short, explosive style also suits the small hall venues and it wasn’t long before he was laying in to Trowbridge journeyman Dan Carr. The visitor engaged in a stinker against Paddy McGarrity in at the Holiday Inn last year and I feared he may clutch and grab his way to a points defeat again this time. Tony was having none of it and, for better or worse, dragged Carr into a scrap. Surprisingly enough Carr relished the battle and gave as good as he got throughout the four-rounder. Nellins decided against employing a jab and ripped away with hooks to head and body – some landed, some didn’t and it was of little concern until mid-way through the third round when he was noticeably blowing. So was Carr and the pair traded all manner of leather for the remainder of the bout. The ref’s 40-36 scorecard did not do justice to Carr’s efforts. Both ended with bloody noses and Nellins, who partly trains in England, had a nick to the forehead.

When Lurgan ticket-seller Ryan Greene hurt his back and was removed from the bill at late notice Belfast light-middleweight Gerard Healy stepped in for his debut. He got a victory too, under slightly controversial circumstances. Veteran coach Paul McCullagh (who trained Martin Rogan for the Sam Sexton rematch) advised against Healy diving in to a bout with such little preparation time but the novice wanted to get stuck in. Quite literally as it turned out, with Healy racing straight out of the blocks and into Wiltshire’s Aaron Fox. Both corners shouted instructions to their men. Healy’s implored him to take it easy and pace himself for the four-twos distance, while Fox’s told him to cover up and ride out the storm, waiting for Healy to tire.

They were both right and Healy did feel the pace as this one progressed, allowing Fox back in. Both went for it, in a good natured affair, with Healy showing flashes of ability, especially with the uppercut. The referee’s card was announced as a draw at 39-39 which was fairly accepted by both men. However, two fights later and BBBofC official John Campbell scaled the ropes and brought both men back into the ring, informing the crowd that a miscalculation had occurred (surprising seeing as there were only four rounds to add up). The revised total revealed that Healy had in fact prevailed at 39-38. He seemed slightly embarrassed by the new verdict and raised Fox’s arm to the crowd in a sportsmanlike gesture. The away man shrugged his shoulders and took it in remarkably good spirits. The Area Council, meanwhile, may be on the lookout for a new calculator.

A re-score wasn’t needed in Stevie Quinn Jnr’s debut fight, as he won a six-twos bout and staked a claim for most impressive performer of the night. Quinn’s father –watching nervously from his corner- was a solid pro in his day who fought the likes of Kevin Mitchell, Martin Power and Michael Hunter during a six-year career. Quinn’s final fight came in 2004 against ubiquitous performer Delroy Spencer, the Wolverhampton journeyman who turned up as the opponent on this night as Quinn’s son started his adventure in the ‘wonderful world of professional boxing’ as MC Harry McGavock professed. Quinn Jnr is tall for the bantamweight limit and used his swiping portside jab to keep Spencer at bay, while adding in straight left hands and hooks when required. Nothing Delroy did fazed the languid demeanour of Quinn who stuck to his task and showed a cool temperament even when the pair frequently grabbed and wrestled.

Ref Paul McCullough often let them work away on the inside but there were occasions where he could have split the pair quicker when a holding deadlock occurred. This was frustrating Spencer, who patrolled the ring in disgust after various clinches. He did land a couple of right hands but was buzzed in the fifth when Quinn landed a classy combination. Del smiled, shook his head and bulled back in – that’s what the veteran does. Quinn Jnr showed plenty of potential and can go places.

In the show opener East Belfast lightweight Michael Harvey was battered and bruised en-route to a 40-35 points defeat at the hands of Radoslav Mitev. The extra point came when Michael – arguably a little off balance - was dropped in the third round by a left hook. He was always second best in his one, failing to use his height and reach to good effect, Mitev slammed hooks into Harvey’s high guard at will, hounding him across the ring. Mitev was powerfully built and found Michael, over anxious and leaning in, all too easy to find with his wide shots. Harvey agreed that he had neglected the basics and revealed that he had suffered from the weight advantage that Mitev brought into the fight.

Gary Hyde’s Georgian light-welterweight prospect Levan Ghvamichava is clearly a talented operator. The former amateur world championship participant was set to face former European title challenger Daniel Rasilla in an interesting litmus test. When Rasilla withdrew at the eleventh hour, Hyde and his team drafted in Hungarian Karoly Lakatos for a scheduled six-threes. It was soon obvious that Lakatos was overmatched and at 0:38 of the opening round he was stopped after shipping a body shot. Levan shrugged and celebrated his win. Hyde knows that he needs stiffer challenges and has promised to deliver.