Tommy Owens Promotions held there final show of the year with a jam packed card with an English title as the main event. The main event was contested by Sam Gilley from London taking on Evaldas Korsakas from Hull and was for the English Super Welterweight title. Gilley won the title with a fourth-round knockout with a big left body shot. He will now be taking on Drew Brown in 2022 where he will have to defend his title.
On the undercard you had seven fights with 5 of them being over 4 three-minute rounds a 2 over six. In the four rounders’ you had Tom Cashmore, Elliott Sowe, Bradley Goldsmith and Ishmael Ellis all fighting from the home corner. There was also a 50/50 fight with Tyler Christopher taking on debutant Muhammad Hussain. In the six round contests you had in the home corners, Matt ‘Swiggy’ Craddock and Tom Silcox, referees on the night for the undercard where Chris Dean and Shaun Messer.
Ring Girls on the night where Megan and Scarlet.
The first fight of the night was Tom Cashmore from Walsall taking on ’The Bandit’ Josh Hodgins from Birmingham in the super Welterweight divsion, Cashmore came in 10 stone 8 and Hodgins came in 10 stone 12 with Chris Dean Reffing.
Cashmore used his jab well to control the first round, Hodgins came back with some nice shots but Cashmore won the round on work rate and the eye-catching shots. In the second Hodgins had a right go and really put it on Cashmore. Cashmore had to work hard to get a share of the round.
Cracking third round with both fighters going toe to toe, Hodgins put some good combinations together but Cashmore nicked the round. Total war in the final round as both fighters left it all in the ring, Hodgins pressed and got some big shots off, Cashmore came back but Hodgins won the round.
Ref Chris Dean scored it 39 to 37 to Cashmore I had it 39 to 38 Cashmore.
Next up was D&A gyms fighter Elliot Sowe taking on Qusim Hussain in the super Middleweight division. Sowe weighed in 10 stone six with Hussain coming in 11 stone 6, reffing this fight was Shaun Messer.
Nice movement and shot picking by Sowe as Hussain tried to land a big overhand right, with Sowe winning the round with ease. The second round was another good one with great shot picking by Sowe as Hussain tried to land a big overhand right as it seemed that, that was all Hussain had. Sowe controlled the third round and the pace as he moved well around the ring picking nice combinations off to win the round with ease. The final round was controlled by Sowe as Hussain poised and joked his way around the ring to see the round out.
Ref Shaun Messers scored it 40 to 36 I had it the same.
Third on the card we had Bradley Goldsmith who was taking on Elvis Dube in the Cruiserweight division with Chris Dean reffing.
Goldsmith moved well as he eased his way into the round putting nice combinations together, Dube coved up well and Sowe won the round.
Goldsmith again controlled the pace in the second as Dube was tucking up well as he took combinations after combinations from Goldsmith. Goldsmith started to go though the gears in the third putting nice combinations together eventually dropping Dube with a lovely straight left hand. The ref started to count and Dube got to his feet at the count of eight, he was than allowed to continue but the writing was on the wall as Goldsmith put his shots together and put Dube down again he managed to get back to his feet but the ref waved the fight off 2 minutes and 11 seconds into the round.
Fourth on the card another D&A fighter Ishmael Ellis took on Lee Devine in the super Lightweight division. Ellis weighed in 9 stone 13 with Device coming in the same with Shaun Messer reffing.
Ellis started fast and worked well behind his jab banging in some nice combinations to win the round with ease. Ellis worked well on the inside in the second getting some nice shots off to the body, Devine did what he could but Ellis was in complete control. Ellis continued to work the body well in the third and moved in and out picking nice combinations on the way winning the round. Ellis let his hands go in the last round as Devine had a go back as he cursed to victory.
Shaun Messer scored it 40 to 36 I had it the same.
Fifth on the card was the first six rounder of the night with Matt Craddock taking on the tough southpaw Steven Jackson at super-bantamweight. Craddock weighed in 8 stone 6 with Jackson coming in 8 stone seven with Chris Dean reffing.
Both fighters just seemed to be feeling each other out with Craddock just edging it. The second was a close round with both fighters having joy and getting good shots off. Craddock picked up the pace in the third and went body and head well with everything coming behind his jab, there was also a accidental clash of heads which left Craddock with a cut above his right eye.
Craddock worked well behind a long jab in the fourth picking some nice combinations, but right at the end of the round Craddock was caught with a lovely left hand that knocked him back and off balance with the bell ringing soon after. The fifth was a battling round with Jackson having joy and getting some good shots off and just edged the round. Jackson went for it in the final round and banged in some cracking combinations as Craddock battled hard but lost the round.
Ref Chris Dean had it 58 to 56 to Craddock I had it 59 to 56 to Cradock.
Sixth on the calendar was a 50/50 contest between D&A’s Tyler Christopher taking on Mohamed Hussain in the Super Welterweight division in a four-round contest. Christopher weighed in 10 stone 7 with Hussain coming in 10 stone 11 with Shaun Messer reffing.
Christopher controlled the first round with nice southpaw jabs using good footwork and great combinations to win the round, Hussain had the odd spurt of joy to the delight of his cheering fans but Christopher won the round. Hussain came out swinging in the second but was swinging at air as Christopher slipped and controlled with great shots to win the round. Hussain had not learned from the last round in the third and came out swinging again but was mostly missing and getting countered by Christopher who won the round with ease. Hussain hand some joy in the final round pressing and got some big shots off, Christopher got his range and worked well behind the jab holding and spoiling like an old pro to see the fight out.
The ref Shaun Messer had it 39 to 38 to Christopher, I had it 40 to 37 Christopher.
The final contest on the undercard was the return of Tom Silcox who took on MJ Hall in a 6-round contest in the Super Welterweight division. Silcox weighed in 10 stone 8 with Hall came in the same , referee was Chris Dean.
Silcox went though the gears in the first round as he worked Hall’s head and body with great combinations to win the round. Silcox went to the body with viscous intent in the second as Hall was already in survival mode, great combinations by Silcox to win the round. Silcox continued to hand out a beat down in the third as every shot seemed to have intent behind it, fair play to Hall who stood strong and took everything Silcox had to see the end of the round.
Silcox continued to smash in shots into the body the fourth as Hall stood strong. Silcox was warned for hiding around the back of the head but when they continued so did the beat down with Silcox winning with ease. Silcox kept smashing in big shots to the body and got some eye-catching uppercuts and dominated the round. Silcox started head hunting in the final round which gave Hall’s body a break, Hall moved well and managed to see the final bell.
Chris Dean scored the fight 59 to 55 Silcox I had it 60 to 64 Silcox
Dexter’s Thoughts
What a packed card tonight was, if you are wondering where the main event is there were no Midland’s fighters involved so not wasting my time.
The first fight of the night was a cracker Cashmore was definitely
Put though his paces tonight by the always game Josh Hodgins. I honestly bereave if Hodgins believed in himself, he could emulate his stable mate ‘The 0-Taker’ Ben Fields. As for Cashmore I thought he boxed a good fight against a very tough opponent and was a deserved winner.
Elliot Sowe look very good tonight as he took on Hussain who was a stone heavier than Sowe. Sowe picked his shots well and will only get better as he gains experience as he has more fights definitely one to watch out for.
Goldsmith looked very impressive as he won by stoppage against a very tough opponent, it was the first time I had saw him box and I have to say I was very impressed and look forward to seeing him again.
Great to see Ishmael Ellis in the ring again and he looked in great form in this four round contest, rumour has it he is set to fight for the Midlands title again and will be hoping its third time lucky.
Swiggy had a great battle against a tough opponent and came though it with flying Colours. Swiggy must now have his eye on a Midlands title and fingers crossed he gets a shot in 2022.
Tyler Christopher looked fantastic tonight against a debut opponent who came to win, he showed great movement and shot picking and I think this kid could have a great future, and one to watch.
Tom Silcox made a massive statement tonight with a great performance against a tough opponent, I have it on good authority that Silcox will be taking on ‘The 0-Taker’ Ben Fields for the super Lightweight Midlands area title early in the new year. Now this is a big step up for the ‘Silk’ but it is what he needs to progress, but he has something that Mr Fields loves an unbeaten record, I’m really looking forward to this fight especially after Silcox’s display tonight.
Many thanks to Tommy Owens Promotions for having the Column at there show.