By Dave Woodhall.
Tipton boxer Lee Glover won his first professional title when taking the International Masters featherweight crown over ten rounds at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday.
It was a comprehensive victory for the Black Country fighter, who shrugged off the handicap of a cut over his left eye in the third of ten rounds against Duggie Curran of Newcastle. Glover was always in command of the fight, his sharp jabbing and swift countering frequently forcing his opponent to hold on.
The only time Glover looked concerned was during the fifth, when the cut opened up again briefly and both fighters were warned by referee Shaun Meever for use of the head. With Glover never previously having gone beyond four rounds there might have been a concern that he would run out of steam against the more experienced Curran, but he shrugged off such concerns with a continual barrage that belied the fact that this was only his sixth paid contest.
Glover dominated the later stages of the fight, unconcerned by a one point deduction in the ninth for a low blow. The final round saw both boxers trading punches and on such a warm night they must both be credited for their conditioning, but the final bell saw Glover’s arm raised to herald a long and loud celebration by both fighter and the fans who had roared him on from start to finish. The referee scored the fight 98-94, which was closer than most ringside observers.
If Glover gained the headlines, Thomas Costello of Birmingham produced the finish of the night with a stunning knockout of Latvian Iavars Seldins early in the second of a scheduled six rounds at light middleweight. Costello, whose promising career had been restricted to just one fight in the past two years due to injury, had started well and as the bell sounded for the end of the opening round looked well on top. While an early finish looked possible, no-one could have expected the stunning right cross from the Brummie fighter which sent the Latvian crashing to the canvas, referee Meever immediately waving off the fight after just 24 seconds of the round. There was some concern as Seldlins received oxygen from paramedics, but fortunately he seemed to make a full recovery and was allowed to walk out of the ring after several minutes’ treatment.
Coseley middleweight Jamie Ball looked impressive when extending his unbeaten record to 13 fights (one draw) with a third round stoppage against another Latvian, Andrejs Loginovs, in a scheduled six rounder. After a close opening Ball unloaded with some good body shots in the third and a combination sent Loginovs to the canvas. Although he beat the count, the referee called off the fight with two seconds remaining of the round.
The show opener saw Tividale’s Jason Welborn back in action after almost a year’s lay-off, taking a decision against Rick Butler of Lincoln in a four round welterweight contest. Wellborn was never troubled, winning all four rounds on the referee’s scorecard.
Two local fighters also made winning starts to their pro careers. Tipton light-heavyweight Adam Corbett edged out James Tucker of Doncaster over four rounds, using his jab well to take the decision 39-38, to the obvious displeasure of his opponent. Super-featherweight Saquib Amir of Halesowen impressed in taking another four rounder against Glaswegian Ryan McNicol 39-37.
