Russell successful in comeback on Sweeney's debut promotion
Paisley's Norrie Sweeney had his first promotional show in the Argyle suite of the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew on Friday evening, and will have been pleased with his opening effort, as he had a packed venue for this dinner show.
I must offer a round of thanks to Wull Downie of Newarthill ABC for his covering this relatively unheralded show. The difficulty of living 180 miles out of the epicentre of professional boxing in Scotland, means that I often have to rely on friends to keep me abreast of events in that neck of the woods and Wull has been a stalwart for me in the past.
Stranraer light-middleweight Paul Allison maintained his unbeaten run, now of four bouts, by beating Belfast's Phil Townley 40-36 in this four-threes opener. Allison was always in control as Townley shipped a lot of heavy left hooks that stiffened his legs on more than one occasion. However, the teak tough Ulsterman's superb conditioning helped him through some torrid times. Townley was cut beneath the right eye in the second round by a terrific Allison left hook, then received a small nick to the forehead in round three when things got a little messy on the inside, where both boxers were guilty of use of the head. Another good win for the Stranraer man who keeps getting better as he progresses in each fight.
Former 'world' champion Dundee kick boxer, Ronnie Clark, made his professional debut in a six-twos lightweight contest against Huddersfield's Jason Thompson. Southpaw Clark started quickly and was perhaps a little over-eager at times, as he was looking to make an impression in the paid ranks. He caught Thompson with some nice combinations that badly marked up the Huddersfield man around the left eye in the second round, but Thompson was as always, very game and came to have a go but was forced to retire after five rounds with the eye virtually closed.
He could have been pulled out a little earlier, as the eye was in a bad way from round three. A good win for the Dundonian although he should be looking to tighten up his defence a little as Thompson, not a noted puncher, was not without success in landing his own shots.
Topping the bill in his comeback after a year out was Paisley southpaw Stephen Russell, in a four-threes contest against Belfast's Michael Harvey at super-featherweight. Stephen won comfortably enough with the bout becoming a little scrappy on occasions, and every time Russell landed a good shot the Belfast man taunted him by sticking his tongue out and shaking his head. Russell shook off the ring rust though as the bout progressed and landed some nice combinations taking the win with a deserved 40-36 decision.
A good start for Norrie as a promoter, although he may wish to note that the show could have done with having another contest being added to the bill.
