Hamilton scores revenge win over Ryan; Choi needs a big fight after easy night

Darren Hamilton scored a ten round points revenge victory over Dave Ryan for the British Masters light-welterweight title at York Hall last night.

Hamilton had a moment of utter madness on Fearon’s “Summer Smash” show last time out where he was rightly disqualified for a head butt in the very opening session. Throughout last night’s fight (pictured - all images by Bernard Miller), a far more controlled and measured Hamilton seemed to box with a sense caution over a contest which really didn’t ignite.

The action was largely ineffective between the two well-matched fighters – with Ryan bundled out of the ring on no fewer than three occasions. The bout was somehow high energy with out being that entertaining. Darren’s work with the double jab and right hand gave him the edge over the first half of the fight, and on a handful of occasions he managed to come back with the left hook, but for the most part Dave was able neutralise the attacks. Sadly, he wasn’t as successful with his own offence. Jeff Hinds scored the fight 100-91 which was a little wide for my money, but the right fighter was victorious. Darren is now 9-2 (2) and is still the Southern area champion.

Choi Tseveenpurev had to celebrate his fortieth birthday with a token win over late sub Janis Puksins of Latvia in a super-featherweight four threes. Janis, with a pre-fight slate of 1-2-1 (0) and looking like a teenager was down in the opener and then rescued after 1:46 of the second. He was never going to trouble the man who’d stalked and smashed seasoned Jackson Asiku for the ten round distance last time out. Spencer Fearon is promising a big fight announcement for Choi imminently.

Fight of the night saw Simon O’Donnell stop Derby’s Ty Mitchell after 1:17 of the the sixth. It was scheduled for six threes at middleweight. Ty, the son of nineties heavyweight contender Clifton, brought a 3-1 (2) pre-fight record to the ring and started threateningly. He would pitter-pat with his southpaw right jab and look to unload the big left hand on the Jimmy Mac-trained O’Donnell. O’Donnell suffered a flash knockdown midway through the round as he was caught slightly off-balance by a right hand and in the second Ty started dropping his hands below his waste and attempted to outspeed the attacking O’Donnell. It seemed as though the turning point came in the third when Mitchell was clocked with a pair of hard right hands, one of which sent his gum shield into orbit. Jim McDonnell waved his man on and the formula for Ty’s undoing was clearly set.

Over the fourth and fifth, all the strength and fight seemed to seep out of the Midlander as he was clattered with right hands and left hooks. The end came at 1:17 of the round when a massive right hand left hook combination floored Mitchell and his negative body language on rising clearly reflected the fact that he needed pulling out.

Wembley-based Albanian Kresnick “The Eagle” Kato returned to winning ways last night by outpointing Birmingham’s Terry Carruthers over six three minute rounds at middleweight. The legion of Albanian fans that are omnipresent at “The Eagle's” fights were noticeably reduced in number last night. The chanting and flag waving seemed tamer than in Qato’s previous contests. This might reflect the fact that Kresnick, at 33 and after a long career, appears to be very much fighting at his level. Terry was ambitious in the fight and came forward, but Qato’s work was always the neater and had the edge in accuracy. The Midlander threw plenty of shots but very few connected cleanly. If he did take one, Kresnick was plucky with his counterpunching. The contest was scored 59-56 at the close and the Eagle will no doubt fly, if not soar, another day.

Finally, Aylesbury’s Nathan “De Lick” Graham shut out Alekandrs Radjuks over four three minute rounds at light middle. The Latvian was game without being overly attacking. He appeared fit and threw a kind of slapping right hand but all of the quality boxing came from Nathan who successfully returned to winning ways after losing his last two to Adil Anwar and Junior Witter respectively.