LIAM WALSH RETURNS AS MTK HOST YORK HALL TAKEOVER
Updated: Nov 15, 2019
by Eliot Stott
Boxing fans were given the opportunity to take a break from the KSI vs Logan Paul parade last Saturday, with a spectacular showing from MTK at York Hall.
George Fox returned to the ring and enjoyed another shut-out points victory over Artur Kubiak in his third professional contest. Fox, who has father Don Charles as his trainer, was returning after a year out against a game opponent in Kubiak.
Wanting to take his chance from the first bell, Kubiak instantly went on the attack giving Fox something to think about right away. As the fight matured, Fox gained more and more control against a reckless Kubiak who can’t be faulted for his effort.
Winning every round with relative ease, Fox looked to enjoy the 4x3 minute rounds shrugging off the predictable ring rust from earlier on in the fight.
Now working with Manager Sam Jones, whether Fox’s level of activity increases from now on is probable.
Ahead of his fight against former English champion Dec Spelman next month, Dan Azeez coasted in a warm-up bout against Latvian journeyman Edgars Sniedze.
Fighting for the first time since becoming Southern Area Light-Heavyweight champ in July, Azeez was making his fifth professional appearance at York Hall.
Facing a much taller opponent in Sniedze, Azeez looked very comfortable from the first bell, dropping the Latvian in the third round before forcing the referee to cause a halt to the contest in the fifth.
After suffering his first career professional defeat this Summer against established pro Paddy Gallagher in devastating fashion, Liam Wells returned to the ring in what was still only his seventh fight.
Coming up against winning fighter Ohio-Kain Iremiren when many would have returned against a journeyman, Wells was clearly in a tough fight from the opening bell with Iremiren refusing to lie down.
In what was an entertaining fight throughout six rounds, Wells was awarded a wide decision of 59-55 according to some in attendance as well as to the surprise of Iremiren.
In what was the first title fight of the night ended up being the best fight of the night as Daniel Egbunike went up against Billy Allington for the vacant Super-Lightweight Championship.
Massively entertaining to start with, Allington looked rocked early on in the 1st round whereas Egbunike looked as if he may have been shaken in the 2nd round.
Although the pace slowed down in the 2nd half of the fight, Egbunike showed a higher quality of endurance and managed to become the first fighter to defeat Billy Allington via a clear unanimous points decision as he did with former undefeated prospect Martin McDonagh over the Summer.
Despite being 30, Egbunike has managed to capture the Southern Area belt 6 fights into his pro career and a fight against English champ Kay Prospere could be on the 2020 shortlist.
· Chantelle Cameron coasted to a one-sided points victory against Argentinian Anahi Esther Sanchez.
Rarely troubled, Cameron dictated the pace of the fight at all times dropping Sanchez for good measure.
Now trained by Jamie Moore, Cameron hopes to fight for Jessica McCaskill for a world title in 2020.
In what was seen as the main event by some, Liam Walsh had his first meaningful fight back since facing Gervonta Davis in May 2017.
Fighting former British title challenge Maxi Hughes for the vacant WBO European Lightweight Title, the fight had a uninspiring first few rounds with a battle of the jabs being the main highlight before the fight came alight in the second round.
Levels were indeed shown in the second half of the fight as Walsh came on stronger and displayed a superior technical ability than that of Hughes.
After very limited heavy punches were thrown in the first half of the fight, both managed to throw telling shots in the 2nd half with Walsh perhaps showing more ‘big fight’ experience as well as durability.
Middleweight Danny Dignum & Conrad Cummings closed the show for in another title fight, this time for the WBO European strap.
Despite being the main event, the fight, unfortunately, lacked a competitive edge that was needed to seal the show in style.
Dignum was in control during the opening stages whilst Cummings displayed a frustrated, lackluster figure, being less offensive throughout the contest.
After five one-sided rounds, Referee Howard Foster had seen enough punishment dished out to Northern Irishman Cummings who had been handed the fifth defeat of his career, three of which have come in the last 4 fights.
Dignum on the other hand was taking the 1st step up of his career and did so with ease against a faded Cummings.