KAZAKH prospect and former top amateur Tursynbay Kulakhmet cruised to victory over Wythenshawe’s Macaulay McGowan in just his second pro outing, a UK debut over 10 rounds at South Kirkby’s Production Park Studios on November 11, where a dominant performance against a boxer previously unbeaten in 15 earned him victory by a wide margin.
Action in the opening couple of rounds proved so one-sided that one wondered if the visitor might be headed for an early night but whilst he looked sharper with every passing session he never managed it. McGowan, despite being given a beating, kept his hands high and his elbows tucked in.
Having his first bout in 15 months, Macauley was counted late in the seventh after being tagged by a left–right combination and half bundled over. But Kulakhmet’s biggest threat was doubtless himself, he was often crude and having already been warned for several indiscretions by referee Victor Loughlin, he was finally docked a point in the eighth for pushing. That proved the only blot on his copybook and thankfully there were no real further misdemeanours as he eased to victory.
Judges Ian John-Lewis, John Latham and Mark Lyson all scored 99-89.
A highly watchable eight-rounder between unbeaten Jack Rafferty from Shaw and Redcar’s Tom Hill saw the former, in his first outing over the distance, earn the 78-75 decision of Mr. Lyson.
The better quality stuff for the most part came from the pressing Rafferty, who was that bit busier but there was never a deal of daylight between the pair.
By the later stages both were giving it absolutely everything at the culmination of what had been a hard, hard bout. If there had been a crowd they would doubtless have roared their approval. As it was the few in the venue applauded both men vigorously.
Despite the calibre of his opposition being upped in what was his fifth paid bout Limerick welterweight Paddy Donovan continues to tick all the boxes. Facing the southpaw this time, in a six overseen by Ian John-Lewis, was Mitcham’s former Southern Area champ Jumaane Camero who had won his last three. Not that it particularly bothered Donovan who ultimately ran out a 60-55 winner.
Paddy’s hand speed was noticeable as Camero pressed forward, as was his ability to deliver quick counters before slipping and pivoting away and he looked more than happy spending time on the back foot or working off the ropes which was the case here for long periods.
Shot of the night from Paddy was probably the left uppercut delivered in the fifth by which time he had opened up what proved to be an unassailable lead.
The six between unbeaten pair and old amateur adversaries Inder Bassi of Basildon and Southminster’s Jack Martin didn’t quite deliver what might have been hoped for, Bassi working well to take the opener behind the jab but then being increasingly bested.
That said, Inder did score with a pair of decent right uppercuts in a see-saw third during which he picked up a nick to the left eyebrow but from the halfway point the contest swung increasingly towards the busier Southminster man.
Well ahead Jack, still strong, looked like he might just get a late stoppage with referee Ian John-Lewis hovering closely and poised to intervene as the final bell sounded. It finished 59-55.
Southampton’s Lewis Edmondson secured victory number three with another four round shut-out success against Trafford’s as yet winless Scott Williams who in stark contrast to dozens of pros was having his seventh outing of the year.
Edmondson began well, scoring with both hands before finding the target with a clubbing right and he looked comfortable throughout, allowing himself plenty of room and employing a nice variety of shots all on the back of a busy jab. Liverpool’s Mark Lyson refereed.
Denaby Main debutant Danny Murrell emerged a 40-37 winner for referee Mr Lyson over Hyde’s experienced Dale Arrowsmith. A couple of combinations and a hard left to the body late in a quiet opener got him on his way as did a glancing right and a nice left uppercut in the second. Arrowsmith did get through with a left in the third and proved a little more ambitious in the last but it was Murrell who closed out the contest with a combination.
The Verdict Kulakhmet hopes to box for a world title within a year, while a mooted Rafferty-Florian Marku could be interesting.
