AFTER bringing pro boxing back to the Mercia Banqueting Suite earlier this year following a long absence, promoter Tommy Owens returned with a five-bout offering that reaped a quintet of distance successes for the home boxers. In what was dubbed the Last Battle of Troy, Coventry’s popular former Midlands Area super-featherweight champion and British title challenger Troy James, in his 32nd outing and recently turned 36, bade farewell to his supporters and the paid ranks with a shut-out four round win over Hereford’s always competitive Dean Evans.
Troy came off second best when facing Cromer southpaw Liam Walsh in a short notice shot at the British super-featherweight title back in 2016 but had his moments along the way, most notable being a cracking performance to outpoint Dundee’s tough Ronnie Clark over 10 at Bedworth Civic Hall in Summer 2014.
The only six-rounder for the evening’s referee Chris Dean to preside over pitched unbeaten and always entertaining River Wilson-Bent from nearby Exhall in against his toughest opponent to date – and in was his first outing over six. He came through in style, besting Atherton’s William Warburton, who is fast closing in on his 200th pro bout, to the tune of 60-54.
Coventry’s Dilbag ‘Dillly’ Singh, a stone over the cruiserweight limit, returned to the fray after the best part of two years out and stretched his 100 per cent record to six by eclipsing Lithuania’s self-styled “Rambo”, Dmitrij Kalinovskij, 40-36 over four. The pair had exchanged pleasantries once before with Dilly having triumphed over the same distance 39-37 in his second paid outing towards the end of 2016.
Welter Michael Green, another local, ensured it was another fruitless night for Blackwood’s still winless Paul Ducie, referee Mr Dean scoring 39-37 in Michael’s favour, while Coventry bantam David Seymour edged out another old foe in the shape of Kent’s busy Ricky Leach by the narrowest of margins, the third man having it 38-37 at the finish.
The Verdict No Trojan war for Troy, who wins to finish with a record of 22-9-1.
FULL RESULTS
Troy James (144lbs 3oz), 22-9-1 (5), w pts 4 Dean Evans (141lbs 2oz), 8-33-3 (4); River Wilson-Bent (160 1/2lbs), 5-0 (2), w pts 6 William Warburton (155 1/2lbs), 26-159-10 (5); Michael Green (149lbs 5oz), 5-1, w pts 4 Paul Ducie (149lbs 2oz), 0-15; Dilbag Singh (214lbs 3oz), 6-0 (1), w pts 4 Dmitrij Kalinovskij (192lbs 5oz), 13-59-4 (5); David Seymour (120lbs 9oz), 7-1, w pts 4 Ricky Leach (127lbs 9oz), 3-45-1.
