Matvienko retains belt in Bolton after slow start
By Lee Collier

After recent weeks in which VIP Promotions have seen their Blackpool show put back a week before being called off, promoter Steve Wood and his team put on a packed 11 fight bill in Bolton headlined by Alex Matvienko defending his British Masters light-middleweight title in front of his home crowd against Welshman Geraint Harvey.

Matvienko was originally pencilled in to Omar Gumati in a rematch after the 31-year-old Bolton-based champion retained his belt when referee Steve Gray scored the fight 96-96.  Gumati was forced to withdraw and journeyman Geraint Harvey stepped in.

Matvienko (153½lbs) held on to his title by forcing Harvey (153lbs) to retire at the end of the fifth round with a rib injury.  Matvienko’s record now moves to 15-1-3 (5) whilst Harvey’s record drops to 7-45 (3).  Officiating the action was referee Steve Gray.

Harvey, who was coming off a win over former Celtic welterweight champion Tony Doherty, started off the faster of the fighters; Matvienko seemed to be have too much respect for the journeyman’s power.  Harvey managed to land several good body shots throughout the first two rounds giving him a commanding lead.

Matvienko came out in the third round knowing he needed to up his game and that’s what he did.  After Harvey landed a couple of early rights Matvienko started to pick up the pace.  In the fourth the champion started to find his range as he landed a succession of left and right hands, evening up the fight.

In the fifth Matvienko landed a peach of left to the body of the challenger sending him to the canvas.  The bell went just as Harvey rose on the count of eight saving him from further punishment.  It was instantly clear after sitting down that Harvey had suffered from the knockdown as his corner pulled him from the fight stating a rib injury, meaning he could not fight on leaving Matvienko celebrating.

“I am happy as I know he’s a dangerous fighter having just knocked out Tony Doherty who was a former Celtic champion.  So for the first four rounds I covered up and he landed some early punches and I knew he could wallop,” explained an ecstatic Matvienko. 

“I knew once I got my distance and my timing and I landed my body shots I would take him out.  It was only the fourth body shot I landed and he went down from it.”

Ashton’s super-featherweight Jon Kays (137lbs – a career heaviest) faced 20-year-old welterweight Dale Hutchinson (143lbs) over six two’s.  In what was a thrilling encounter, the Bobby Rimmer trained Kays won via a fifth round stoppage with the time being 1:05.  Kays record improves to 11-1 (3) whilst Hutchinson slips to 0-2.

Jon Kays came out looking to control the pace but his 20-year-old opponent had different ideas.  Hutchinson, trained by the Ingles, was switch-hitting throughout and was launching himself in attacks on his more experienced opponent.  Hutchinson’s work rate meant he nicked the first round.

During the second round action was stopped after 15 seconds after a problem with the ambulance being blocked in by a car.  When the action started Kays started to land the right hand against a wild opponent.  Just before the bell Kays glove touched the canvas after Hutchinson seemed to pull the Ashton fighter’s head forward.  Referee Phil Edwards ruled in no knockdown, leading to protests from Hutchinson’s corner.

Hutchinson started the third strong throwing wild shots with some connecting.  Kays seemed to be struggling with his novice opponent but at the end of the fourth round, with the bout looking level, Hutchinson returned to his corner looking on empty.

In the fifth after a series of left hands of Kays, a left to the body finally dropped Hutchinson who was up early of three.  A right hand to the chin of Hutchinson followed by a left sent Hutchinson crumbling to the floor and referee Phil Edwards stopped the contest without making a count.
Fellow Bobby Rimmer-trained boxer Warren Tansey (165lbs) give away over half a stone when he faced light-heavyweight Lee Nicholson (174lbs) over six two minute rounds.  Tansey dropped Nicholson in both the first round before finally stopping his heavier opponent at 1:15 of the third round.  Middleton’s Tansey improves to 2-1 (2) whilst Nicholson slips to 3-19-3 (0).

Tansey, who admitted before the fight of some nerves at giving away a big weight advantage, seemed a different man when the action started.  Tansey almost landed at will and it was not long before Nicholson was down taking a count after two right hands.  Nicholson was up on three but finished with a nosebleed.

After winning the second it seemed only a matter of time before Tansey ended the action.  Nicholson was caught by another right hand and took the second count of the fight.  After a brief Nicholson comeback Tansey landed a flush right hand to the chin of his opponent and referee Phil Edwards stopped the contest as soon as Nicholson went down.

The city of Liverpool continued their boxing success from Friday night with two successful wins in Bolton.  First up was Nick Quigley (150lbs) who faced Carl Allen (151lbs) who was taking part in his 113th fight.  The fight was fought over four three-minute rounds and Quigley was awarded the fight 40-37 by referee Steve Gray with Allen probably getting a share of the second round.  Quigley moves to 5-0 (0) but is still looking for his first knockout whilst the active Allen falls to 18-88-7 (5).

Quigley started off nice and fast and landed some crisp clean punches.  The young Liverpool fighter had a height advantage and was using the jab to good effect but as the fight wore on he seemed happy to engage on the inside.  Quigley’s work was more frequent and cleaner but needs to use his solid jab more.

Fellow Scouser Stephen Jennings (140lbs) breezed to a 60-54 point victory over Nuneaton’s Kristian Laight (140lbs).  The fight was over six two-minute rounds and was scored by referee Steve Gray.  The talented Jennings improves to 4-0 (1) whilst Laight slips to 6-72-5 (0).

Jennings started off each round at a quick pace looking to force the fight on his terms.  In the third round a right to the body of Laight had the journeyman grunting in pain.  Jennings sensing that his opponent was weak to the body targeting the area well but was unable to finish the job despite winning all six rounds clearly.  Jennings did end the fight with some blood coming from the nose but can be pleased with his performance.

In a close fought encounter Paul Economides (127lbs) got back to winning ways with a four round points win over Shaun Doherty (125lbs).  The fight was scored by Phil Edwards who thought Economides nicked it by a 39-38 margin.  Economides moves to 8-1 (0) whilst Doherty slips to 2-3-2 (0).

In what was an intriguing contest saw Doherty a clear winner in the first round.  Both fighters were fighting at a fast pace but it was Doherty who landed the cleaner shots as Economides was struggling to land anything meaningful.  Economides, coming off a loss, sensed he had lost the first round and came out in the second managing to find his target.

As the fight wore on it was Economides who was getting stronger landing some nice left hands.  Both fighters give a big effort during the final round and in a close affair Economides deserved the win just.

Karl Ince trained Shayne Singleton (139lbs) impressed with a four round points victory over Daniel Thorpe (139lbs).  Thorpey was his usual self, joking around in the ring and trying to Singleton off his game but the Colne youngster boxed well to earn a 40-36 win scored from ringside by Phil Edwards.  Trialist John Latham was the man in charge and Singleton moves to 4-0 (2) whilst Sheffield’s Thorpe slips to 23-98-3 (9).

Singleton was busy throughout the fight landing some nice combinations, which caused Thorpe to smile and call his opponent in.  The experienced Thorpe was trying to draw his young opponent into a mistake but Singleton stuck to his gameplan throughout.

Singleton landed some nice combinations throughout but Thorpe who never seemed in trouble lasted to the end by throwing the odd counter leaving Singleton the deserved winner.
Chris Johnson (149lbs) ground out a six round points win (two minute rounds) when he beat Tooting based Bulgarian Danny Dontchev (150lbs) by 60-54 on referee Phil Edwards scorecard.  Johnson’s record improves to 11-3 (5) whereas Dontchev, who celebrated wildly at the end, slips to 2-17 (1).

In what was a scrappy fight, Johnson managed to win all six rounds by staying at a distance and boxing behind a jab.  Dontchev kept a tight defence and threw back the odd return.  Johnson’s best round was the final round when he started landing the left hand and was a deserving winner.

Joe Pennington trained Austen Hornsby (148½lbs) won his professional debut with a close fought but excellent encounter over Andrew Patterson (147lbs).  Hornsby got the nod off Phil Edwards (58-57) who was scoring for triallist referee John Latham. Hornsby record stands at 1-0 (0) whereas Patterson is still looking for his first win, 0-6-1.

Both fighters stood toe-to-toe from the word go and tried their utmost to put on a good show.  In a close first round, Hornsby landed the cleaner work to nick the round.  Patterson came back in the second with a couple of right hands, which made Hornsby more determined during the third round.

The rounds where close; during the fifth Hornsby had Patterson in trouble after landing a three-punch combination.  Hornsby was now dominating affairs but Patterson managed to survive the round.  The final round started and both boxers came out like they needed to win the round to get the victory.  Both fighters finished on their feet and can be proud of the effort they managed to put in over a good six stanzas.

Joe Collins (151) was the second of three debutants to have a successful evening in a six-twos contest.  His opponent was Damian Turner (144lbs) and he wasn’t given a round by referee Steve Gray, who gave the fight to Collins 60-54.  Collins is 1-0 (0), whereas Turner falls to 0-5.

Collins, who had the natural weight advantage came out, busy against Turner, forcing his opponent onto the back foot throughout.  In the fourth Collins landed a right uppercut, which had Turner holding on and left the fighters nose bleeding.  Turner did try and make a fight of it but Collins size advantage meant his work made him a clear winner.

Opening the show was Halifax’s Patrick Liam Walsh (145lbs) who faced veteran Jason Nesbitt (152lbs) in his 115th fight.  Walsh won 40-37 in a fight, which was refereed by trialist John Latham and scored form ringside by Steve Gray.  Walsh stands at 1-0 (0), whilst Birmingham’s Nesbitt falls to 7-105-2 (5).

Nesbitt started off in defensive mode after Walsh came out aggressive.  The debutant showed a good variety of shots but was leaving himself open to the right hook off Nesbitt.  The veteran had some success with the right hand but they came few and far between as Walsh’s workrate carried through the youngster on an impressive debut.