By Alexey Sukachev

In the main event of a tiny show, promoted by Frank Maloney at Goresbrook Leisure Center in Dagenham, England, Oldham-base Mongol Shinebayar Sukhbataar (15-4-2, 4 KOs) retained his BBBofC British flyweight belt for the first time having been held to a draw against young challenger Ashley Sexton (9-0-1, 5 KOs).

Better known as Shinny Bayaar, the Mongol fighter, who had begun his pro career at strawweight limit, started the affair actively, trying to outwork Sexton on the inside. He was able to get some success but had his nose bleeding. Bayaar, 32, was slowly dominating over Sexton, ten years his younger, with his precision and effective punching through the next six rounds as well. Sexton was eating punches, had his head snapped back several times but struggled to establish an adequate countering.

The pattern began to turn around in round eight, which saw Bayaar fading a bit and Sexton, oppositely to that, getting more and more aggressive. The fight turned into a brawl in the ninth when Sexton sensing he was on the brink of defeat moved in and tried to break the Mongol down. Bayaar suffered a nasty cut over his right eye in that stanza due to an accidental headbutt.

Rounds nine through twelve were in Sexton’s favour. The young Brith stalked his fatigued opponent all over the ring trying to sap his energy in clinches but notably failing to land any punches of note, though overcoming Bayaar with his zeal and activity. After twelve heated rounds, judge Howard John Foster got the edge to the defending champion 116-112, Ian John-Lewis saw a draw here 114-114 and Dave Parris was way out of the line with his 112-116 scorecard for Ashley Sexton.

Three heavyweight prospects were successful on the card as well. It took 6’6’’ Tom Dallas (10-0, 8 KOs) just 114 seconds to get the rid of helpless veteran Lee Swaby (25-25-2, 11 KOs) in the first round of scheduled six. Swaby is best known for his upset kayo of then-starting pro Enzo Maccarinelli. Larry Olubamiwo (8-1, 7 KOs) spent exactly thirty seconds more in the ring than Dallas before finishing off Irish veteran Colin Kenna (16-11-2, 10 KOs) in the first to gain British Southern Area belt. Olubamiwo bitter rival and only conqueror Daniil “Shrek” Peretyatko (16-28, 6 KOs) displayed his usual self in a six-rounder against former British Olympian David Price (6-0, 4 KOs). The Russian crow-pleaser taught three times former ABA champion some valuable lessons in 60-54 defeat.

Finally, Scott Haywood (20-5-2, 4 KOs) cruised to a convincing decision over Scott Woolford (10-6, 3 KOs) in a heated rematch of their last-year competition, won by the latter pugilist. The sole score was 59-56 – for Haywood.

Other results:
Menay Edwards (3-0, 1 KO) PTS 6 Hari Miles (5-2, 1 KO). Score was 60-56.
Martin Welsh (6-0, 1 KO) PTS 6 William Warburton (2-9-2). Score was 59-55.
Erick Ochieng (4-0, 1 KO) PTS 4 Curtis Valentine (2-1, 1 KO). Score was 39-37.
Lewis Pettitt (1-0) PTS 4 Delroy Spencer (11-98-3, 1 KO). Score was 39-37.