Black country boxing promotions held there “Showtime” show at Walsall town hall (12,5,19). There were 7 bouts of boxing on the show with three of them being over 4 three minute rounds and 3 over six three minute rounds. There was also a female bout on the card with the baby face assassin Amy Timlin making he pro debut over 4 two minute rounds. Reffeeing on the night was Kevin Parker and comparing on the night was Mr "make some noise, and let’s get it on" Ben Walters. For some reason there were no ring girls at the show.
Fight 1 Kane Baker v Andy Harris 4x3 Lightweight
Steady start by Baker who just shot out the jab, early in the first round there was an accidental clash of heads with both fighters sustaining cuts, Bakers on the top of his forehead and Harris getting a nasty one just above his left eye. The ref Kevin Parker took a look at both fighters and let the fight continue with Baker edging the round. Good second round as both fighters cuts looked like they had been cleaned up well by the corners. Both fighters got good shots off but Baker edged the round again with the better work rate and pressure. Cracker third round by Baker as he moved through the gears getting some nice combinations off working the head and the body well. Baker dominated the final round getting some tidy combinations off and keeping the pressure on till the final bell.
Results Dexter - 40-36 Ref - 40-36 Baker wins on points. Fight 2 Ruben Campbell v MJ Hall 4x3 Super lightweight
Nice start by Campbell on his debut getting some nice shots off against the talented southpaw MJ Hall. Hall got some nice combinations off of his own but Campbell just edged it for me. Hall made Campbell work in the second as he pressed and pressured him all the way. Campbell dealt with it well and didn’t panic countering well and getting some good shots off. Campbell stepped up the pace in the third getting some nice combinations off, Hall fought back hard but Campbell continued to bang in good shots. Campbell got some nice shots off in the final round working Halls head and body well, Hall continued to press and make Campbell work till the final bell.
Result Dexter -40-37 Ref - 40-38 Campbell wins on points Fight 3 Amy Timlin v Roz Mari Sylanova 4x2 Super Bantamweight
Timlin boxed well in a scrappy first round with her opponent looking to hold, Timlin showed a good work rate to win the round. Timlin got some nice sharp one, twos off in the second and was able to really show off her boxing skills in this round. In the third Timlin had now warmed into the pro ranks and was banging in some cracking combinations, the baby face assassin was still being frustrated by an opponent who just wanted to hold. In the final round Timlin poured on the pressure banging in some great shots, ref Kevin Parker took a point off Sylanova for continually holding. Timlins stuck to her job and finished the round strong.
Result Dexter - 40-35 Ref - 40-35 Timlin wins on points Fight 4 Conah Walker v Nathan Bendon 6x3 Super Welterweight
Both fighters got good shots at the start of the first round. Bendon moved well around the ring but Walker just edged the round. In the second Bendon started well getting some cracking combinations off, Walker came back with some nice shots of his own but this was Bendon’s round. Walker banged in some cracking combinations ending with some great body shots in the third, Bendon fought back hard and was moving well using his jab well and getting some good combinations off but Walker nicked the round for me.
Walker started the forth with some hurtful body shots, Bendon took them well and came back with shots of his own. Walker continued to pressure Bendon winning the round with the higher work rate. Close fifth round with both fighters getting good combinations off. Bendon got this round for me showing great heart, work rate and determination. Both fighters left it all in the ring in the final round as they both worked till the final bell with Walker winning this one.
Result Dexter – 58 – 56 Ref – 58 – 56 Walker wins on points
Fight 5
Ricky Summers v Harry Mathews
6x3
Light Heavyweight
Summers warmed into the first with a steady start controlling the ring, he then let some heavy shots go in the second part of the round. Summers jab was working well in the second with him dropping some lovely straight right hands to the body as well. Mathews got at few overhand rights in but nothing to worry Summers. Summers controlled the ring and the round in the third shooting out his jab and banging in some hurtful combinations. Mathews was having a go back but Summers just walked through them.
In the forth round Summers was in total control taking the centre of the ring and backing Mathews up with some heavy combinations which all came from a good jab. Summers continued to control the fight in the fifth with a great work rate and good shot selection. Mathews got some good shots off of his own but Summers was in control. In the final round Summers again took the centre of the ring and pressed Mathews with great combinations all coming from the jab.
Result Dexter - 60-54 Ref - 60-54 Summers wins on points
Fight 6 Liam Davies v Pablo Navaroe 4x3 Super Bantamweight
Davies came out fast shooting out nice combinations from the first bell forcing his opponent onto the back foot. Davies had his opponent down late in the first round with a solid left hook, Navaroe got to his feet and was able to continued Davies poured on the pressure until the bell rang to end the round. In the second Davies came out with intent banging in some cracking combinations, he then caught Navaroe with another cracking left hook that put him down for the second time with the ref counting him out.
Result Davies wins second round knockout.
Fight 7 Kellie Ball v Lewis Van Poetsch 6x3 Super Middleweight
Ball worked hard getting some nice combinations off making Van Poetsch cover up, Van Poetsch came back with some good shots of his own but Ball won the round with his work rate. Ball was made to work hard by Van Poetsch who was putting up a good fight, Ball rose to the challenge and banged in some nice combinations of his own to win the round. Some big shot from Ball in the third round with the veteran Van Poetsch taking them well and covering up when needed, he also got some nice shots in himself.
Ball came out strong in the forth getting some good shots off but was caught with a lovely big right which put him down. Ball some how got to his feet the ref gave him a 8 count then let him continue. Van Poetsch then went after him looking for the stoppage, Ball fought back hard and got some cracking shots off of his own to get him to the end of the round. Ball looked like he had recovered in the fifth as Van Poetsch continued to press him all the way. Ball worked hard and got some good shots off to win the round. Ball got some heavy shots off in the final round to make Van Poetsch cover up, Van Poetsch still got some good shots off but you had to give this round to Ball.
Result Dexter - 58-55 Ref - 58-55 Ball wins on points
Dexter’s Thoughts
What a great show Black Country boxing put on at the Walsall town hall with some good battling fights and some new prospect showing what they can do.
We have to start with the main event, Kelcie Ball was having his first fight back after being stopped by Ryan Kelly in the summer of last year and did have a bit of ring rust. Ball who has now moved up to the Middleweight took on the very experience Lewis Van Poetsch at super Middleweight. Ball started well but you could see a bit of ring rust, he was caught with a cracking right hand and showed a lot of heart and fighting spirit to get off the canvas and continued. Van Poetsch could smell a shock on the cards and poured on the pressure with Ball battling back hard to not just see the final round but to win every round but the one he was dropped in. Ball will have learnt a lot about himself in this fight and came away with a win as well, he can go back to Smoking Joe’s gym and work on sharpening the tools he has already got with his trainer Shaun Cogan. There was talk going around that there could be a potential fight between Ball and former Midlands area Middleweight champ Tyler Denny this would be a great fight if it could be made but would have to be for a title. With Denny giving up his Midlands title it would have to be for at least an English.
Liam Davies shone tonight with a great second round stoppage, the super Bantamweight was relentless and did not let his opponent off the hook until he was counted out. Davies is looking like he is a very exciting prospect and has also got a massive support which doesn’t hurt, very impressive win by the 23 year old.
Ricky Summers put on a very controlled display where he showcased what he has been working on with new trainer Spencer Mccracken at Eastside gym. It was a great display of his skills with a great jab and good shot selection. There could be big fight news in July for Ricky I look forward to seeing the Digger in title contention soon.
Conah Walker against Nathan Bendon has to go down as fight of the night, we had two talented prospects who were both two without defeat put there unbeaten records on the line. This was a great battling fight with Walker coming out as the winner. It was the first six rounder for both fighters and they left it all in the ring, Walker who is trained by legend Ricky Hatton has a great future ahead of him but Bendon can walk away from this fight with head held high. Bendon gave a pedigree prospect a very hard and close run fight and again I’m sure he has learnt a lot from this fight. I’m sure his trainer Shaun Cogan from Smoking Joe’s gym will be proud of his fighter.
Amy Timlin looked good when she was allowed to boxes against an opponent who just wanted to hold. I could see that Timlin was getting frustrated with all the holding but she stuck to her boxing and won the fight with ease. Timlin showed me enough that she will do well in the pro ranks and joins the ever growing BcB female stable of boxers.
Ruben Campbell had a good test on his debut against the very talented southpaw MJ Hall, Campbell was made to work for all four rounds as Hall put him through his paces. Campbell passed the test with flying colours winning his first fight, I look forward to seeing him in the squared circle soon.
Kane Baker was in a bloody battle with both fighters sustaining cut early in the first round from an accidental clash of heads. This didn’t stop the action as both fighters continued to battle hard with Baker going though the gears winning all four rounds. After getting this fight out of the way he can now focus on his next challenge of fighting for the English Lightweight title in September. The Birmingham Boxing Column will be doing a full report on Bakers English title challenge as we get more information.
The Birmingham Boxing Column would like to thank BcB for having the column at there show.