A rather lower profile trilogy ends with a draw

These are tough financial times for most but 250 people dug deep for a charity dinner show staged by Glyn Rhodes at Sheffield United FC’s Bramall Lane last Friday night (11th November).

Sheffield light-heavyweight Carl Wild (12st 10 ¼ lbs) seemed to hope the charitable spirit would be extended to him and he was angry when referee Michael Alexander only gave him a 57-57 draw in part three of his trilogy with Elvis Dube (12st 12 ¼ lbs).

Mr Alexander didn’t deserve the flare of temper he saw from Wild – I had it 59-58 to the Derby boxer. I scored three of the six sessions even, reflecting a very close encounter. In June, Wild used his height and reach advantages to outbox Dube. In the return a month later, Dube took Wild out with a right hook in the first round. Had Wild simply reverted to his tactics of their first match, no doubt he would have won again.

For some reason best known to himself, whether it be misplaced machismo or what, Wild chose to negate all of his natural advantages by fighting up close for almost every second of the twelve minutes boxed. In short, he could and should have won again but it’s his fault that he didn’t.

Every round was similar and it made for very good entertainment, though presumably a frustrating evening for Wild’s supporters who, rightly, shouted ‘box him!’ all the way through. Both men gave and took plenty of leather willingly, neither was ever in trouble and a fourth instalment would be willingly received in these parts. Wild is now 10-16-5, Dube 4-10-1.

Wayne Reed – the Prizefighter victim of an Ian John Lewis miscalculation – should have been topping the bill against Dean Walker in an all-Sheffield area title clash. It didn’t materialise, with Reed’s camp claiming that Walker eventually didn’t fancy it.

Reed’s fans who had bought tickets still got to see their man in action, as he won by way of second round stoppage against Brighton trier Iain Jackson. Jackson (12lbs 14oz) came to fight but took a hefty straight right through his guard early on which was an indication of things to come. He quickly picked up a cut right eye.

Jackson got through with a left hook but took a right hook from Reed (12st) at the same moment and went down. He got up and was ready to continue in the sense that his legs seemed fine. His face betrayed his insecurities though. Fortunately for him, the bell went almost immediately. Unfortunately for him, the bell for the second round was only a minute away and Jackson lasted only 19 seconds of this session. He took a stiff right hand, then a couple more meaty shots and referee Alexander, who officiated all four contests, made a very timely stoppage.

I like Jackson. He’s a brave lad who would have continued to take as much punishment as he could – it’s the referee’s job to prevent that when one boxer is overmatched. Reed notches his seventh win against three losses; Jackson is 2-8-1.

Sheffield light-middle Dave Fiddler (11st 2 ¾ lbs) won his second of two contests by stopping Grimsby’s favourite Mauritian Nick Coret (10st 13lbs 6oz) after 1:50 of the sixth and final round. Fiddler sells a few tickets and he and the game Coret, still to get off the mark at 0-3-1, put on a good show. The home fighter was on the front foot from the off, got through with a right hook in the first round but then became over-confident and shipped a left hook. He responded in the second round with a left hook of his own before throwing Coret to the canvas.

Fiddler was anxious to please and, in the third, got over-excited and didn’t respond to Mr Alexander’s call of break, almost catching the official with a right hook. Fortunately, the former light-middleweight’s muscle memory kicked in and he slipped it better than Coret had been doing. Most punches thrown in both this and the fourth round were missed as the action became increasingly agricultural.

Coret was lively and game all the way through without taking a round on my card and his end came in the fifth, a round he actually started very well. A left cross from Fiddler started the rot, followed by hooks from both hands. A straight right came down the pipe and Mr Alexander stepped in to rescue him. Fiddler and his fans celebrated as Coret trudged back to his corner. If his efforts are anything to go by, he’ll hopefully get off the mark soon.

The show opened with well supported Sheffield-based Afghan Monsoor Wali (11st 4lbs) beating Lincoln’s slippery Rick Boulter (11st 8lbs 2oz) on points over six rounds, 60-55. Wali started like whatever the Afghan equivalent of a steam train is, whilst Boulter soaked up the initial aggression in the style of the experienced journeyman he’s becoming.

As Wali slowed a little, Boulter picked his punches a bit more but was always safety-first, often backing away with his hands down, as is his usual style.

I had it closer at 59-57 to Wali, who’s now 3-2 whilst Boulter drops to 1-14-3 which probably won’t concern him in the least.