Friday results from Liverpool
Posted: 16 May 2005, 06:37
Mathews made to work as Burke claims easy win May 16 2005
By David Randles, Daily Post
DERRY MATHEWS and David Burke stepped up their title bids this weekend as professional boxing returned to Liverpool for the first time in six months.
Both boxers showed the city what it has been missing on a seven-bout card at Everton Park Sports Centre on Friday night that also saw impressive stoppage wins for Tony Moran, Stephen 'Tiger' Matthews and pro debutant Stephen Burke.
The only disappointment was Courtney Fry's loss to Ovill McKenzie, the light-heavyweight Sydney Olympian going down 39-38 to his first defeat on what now reads an 8-1 record.
For David Burke it was all about getting the rounds under his belt ahead of his forthcoming British title eliminator with Manchester's Lee Meager. And so it seemed as the former WBU and Commonwealth lightweight champion paced himself throughout to win 60-54 over Duncan Cottier.
Rolling off the ropes to evade his opponent, Burke flexed his muscles with an eye-catching range of shots. The result was never in doubt.
It was a different story for Derry Mathews who was made to work much harder, sharing three rounds with the rugged John Mackay before taking a 60-57 decision.
Events came to a head in the third as Mackay found a way inside after a blistering start from Derry. Undeterred, Mackay came in again and appeared to catch Mathews after the referee had called 'break' which led to a stand-off as the pair eyeballed each other.
As Mathews' corner screamed at him to regain his composure the next session saw a brawl. By the fifth Derry danced away from Mackay's sweeping singles before sharing the sixth.
Stephen Burke marked his paid debut with a crushing third-round stoppage of Egyptian Ahmed Kharif. The triple ABA lightweight champion wore his opponent down before finishing him off with a neat left hook to the body followed by a right to the chin.
Also at lightweight, Tiger Matthews made short work of David Hinds, seeing off the Brummie inside the opening round. Tony Moran saw the same result up at cruiserweight where some relentless pressure was too much for Lee Mount-ford, who failed to see the round out.
Wigan's Lee Blundell took a four-round points decision over Birmingham's Michael Pinnock at cruiserweight to complete the card.
By David Randles, Daily Post
DERRY MATHEWS and David Burke stepped up their title bids this weekend as professional boxing returned to Liverpool for the first time in six months.
Both boxers showed the city what it has been missing on a seven-bout card at Everton Park Sports Centre on Friday night that also saw impressive stoppage wins for Tony Moran, Stephen 'Tiger' Matthews and pro debutant Stephen Burke.
The only disappointment was Courtney Fry's loss to Ovill McKenzie, the light-heavyweight Sydney Olympian going down 39-38 to his first defeat on what now reads an 8-1 record.
For David Burke it was all about getting the rounds under his belt ahead of his forthcoming British title eliminator with Manchester's Lee Meager. And so it seemed as the former WBU and Commonwealth lightweight champion paced himself throughout to win 60-54 over Duncan Cottier.
Rolling off the ropes to evade his opponent, Burke flexed his muscles with an eye-catching range of shots. The result was never in doubt.
It was a different story for Derry Mathews who was made to work much harder, sharing three rounds with the rugged John Mackay before taking a 60-57 decision.
Events came to a head in the third as Mackay found a way inside after a blistering start from Derry. Undeterred, Mackay came in again and appeared to catch Mathews after the referee had called 'break' which led to a stand-off as the pair eyeballed each other.
As Mathews' corner screamed at him to regain his composure the next session saw a brawl. By the fifth Derry danced away from Mackay's sweeping singles before sharing the sixth.
Stephen Burke marked his paid debut with a crushing third-round stoppage of Egyptian Ahmed Kharif. The triple ABA lightweight champion wore his opponent down before finishing him off with a neat left hook to the body followed by a right to the chin.
Also at lightweight, Tiger Matthews made short work of David Hinds, seeing off the Brummie inside the opening round. Tony Moran saw the same result up at cruiserweight where some relentless pressure was too much for Lee Mount-ford, who failed to see the round out.
Wigan's Lee Blundell took a four-round points decision over Birmingham's Michael Pinnock at cruiserweight to complete the card.