Simon Henry bags debut win - Coalville undercard results
Simon Henry (pictured in his amateur days) got his professional career off to a flying start with a well earned victory over Andy Hardy.
Henry (11st 3¾lbs) made his intentions clear from the first bell punishing Hardy (11st 1½lbs) with hard right hands. Hardy wasn’t going to lay down and take it and the first round turned out to be a complete tear up with Henry winning the round with his more accurate punches. The second round was much the same with Henry throwing the left jab - straight right with good success. Both guys were going toe to toe and the last minute of the round could have been fought in a phone box.
Henry seemed to take his foot gas in the third round and which allowed Hardy to get some momentum of his own going. The fourth round was another good one for Henry who kept the pressure up on Hardy who didn’t stop trying to the final bell. An impressive debut for Henry who threw and landed a huge variety of punches in style on his way to a 40-37 points verdict from referee Rob Chalmers.
Kevin Colgan (7st 9½lbs) came to Sheldon Purdy’s back yard and spoilt his debut beating the Leicester man 58-57 on Gareth Morris’ scorecard in an entertaining battle over six-twos. Purdy (7st 7½lbs) started the fight quickly trying to stamp his authority on the visitor from Darlington. Neither fighter landed much as they struggled to find their range. The second and third rounds saw Colgan find his range and he started to get the better of any exchanges. The later rounds were very close with Purdy being the aggressor throwing lots of wild hooks but Colgan landing the cleaner more telling blows.
Ryan Hookway (10st 8 1/2lbs) saw off debutant Shaun Watt (10st 9 1/4lbs) comfortably in a welterweight contest over six-twos. Londoner Watt started the fight very well using his superior reach and awkward style to confuse and frustrate Hookway who couldn’t get near Watt. Towards the end of the third round Hookway had worked out his opponents style and started to land some crisp single head shot’s before getting back out of range. Hookway was in complete control come the final round which saw Watt wanting to hold on. Referee Rob Chalmers scored the bout 60-55 for Hookway who improves to 4-0 with the win.
Another debutant on the show, Paddy Connors from Chesterfield got his career off to a winning start with a 60-55 win over Doncaster’s James Tucker. Tucker (13st 1½lbs) actually did what his name would suggest and ‘tucked’ up for the first couple of rounds backing up from Connors (12st 5 3/4lbs) relentless onslaught of head and body punches. As the fight progressed Connors slowed slightly allowing Tucker to get back into it and start to make a real fight of it. The last round was the most exciting of the six and both boxers gave it every thing they had left in the tank.
