STOCKPORT’S Jamie Quinn, his century fast approaching, failed to hear the final bell for only the third time in his long career when he lost to Kane Gardner at the Leisure Centre.
Manchester’s Gardner floored him in a neutral corner with a left to the body, sufficient reason for referee Jamie Kirkpatrick to wave it off 35 seconds shy of the halfway point in a scheduled six despite “Quinny” having regained his feet.
Mr Kirkpatrick refereed two further contests, the first seeing Manchester-based Brazilian Diego Costa, back after 17 months on the sidelines, halt Derby’s Nathan Junor after just one minute 53 seconds of a scheduled four. Costa dropped Junor with a right cross and left him too unsteady to continue.
Another bout finished 60-54, allowing Stourbridge’s Sam Eggington to stay busy with a run-out against heavier opposition in the shape of Lydney’s Lewis van Poetsch.
Phil Edwards oversaw three that went the distance. Derby’s Asad Riaz outscored Chessington’s Richard Harrison 40-36 in an at-times feisty encounter; Oldham’s Joe Eko proved too much for Worcester’s Michael Mooney and triumphed 60-54 despite a couple of close rounds; and Rochdale’s Muhammad Ali Zahid rallied from a first-round knockdown to outscore a charitable Jordan Grannum (Islington) 39-37.
Trialist Andy Brook controlled the rest, the first of which saw Blackpool cruiser Jamie Mitchell halt Rochdale southpaw Andy Bishop 48 seconds from the end of the third and penultimate round.
A light-heavyweight six between Bob Ajisafe of Leeds and Liverpool’s Genadij Krajevskij finished with just 32 seconds remaining when former British and Commonwealth champion Ajisafe, who had floored Genadij as early as the first, wobbled him again.
And a highly watchable affair, scored 40-36 from ringside by Mr Edwards, saw eventual winner Aqib Fiaz (Oldham) overcome game Thamesmead novice Daniel Alder. Fiaz was down and Alder counted in a frantic opener.
The Verdict Another successful season completed by hard-working promoter Steve Wood.
FULL RESULTS
Kane Gardner (139lbs), 10-1 (5), w rsf 3 Jamie Quinn (136 1/2lbs), 5-89-2; Bob Ajisafe (182lbs 5oz), 19-3 (9), w rsf 6 Genadij Krajevski (182lbs), 0-8; Aqib Fiaz (140lbs), 3-0, w pts 4 Daniel Alder (140 1/2lbs), 0-2; Asad Riaz (180 3/4lbs), 4-0, w pts 4 Richard Harrison (131lbs), 3-36; Sam Eggington (169 1/4lbs), 26-6 (15), w pts 6 Lewis van Poetsch (176lbs), 9-108-2 (2); Joe Eko (136lbs 6oz), 7-0, w pts 6 Michael Mooney (142lbs), 9-66-2 (3); Diego Costa (178 1/2lbs), 5-0 (4), w tco 1 Nathan Junor(182lbs), 0-3; Jamie Mitchell (191 1/4lbs), 4-0 (1), w rsf 5 Andy Bishop(188lbs), 0-3; Muhammad Ali Zahid (157 1/4lbs), 5-0, w pts 4 Jordan Grannum (159lbs), 5-57-2.
