“Smokin’ Joe” Maphosa capped a belting night for Teesside with the best win of his career to date.
Topping the New Kidz on the Block event at Rainton Meadows Arena,the 24-year-old made it eight wins from eight with a points success over former English champion and British title challenger, Louis Norman.
The little men produced a big finale, with Maphosa summoning up an excellent finish to beat a very good opponent, referee Ron Kearney marking it 58-56, a scoreline which looked spot on from ringside.
Maphosa made a quick start, both with his feet and hands, moving well and landing a number of combinations, while Norman had success with single shots.
The Thornaby super-flyweight carried on the good work in round two with some good rights to the head and body, prompting a shake of the head from Norman as he returned to the red corner.
To Norman’s credit, he stepped things up in the third and ahead of the fourth, manager Carl Greaves instructed him to “empty the tank”.
The 25-year-old followed orders with a strong fourth and, certainly on your punch-lines reporter’s very unofficial scorecard, the bout was on a knife-edge.
Maphosa re-discovered his form, first a left finding its target ad then a right, and with Norman starting to miss, the Imran Naeem-trained boxer was back in front.
Joe began the sixth sharply, hitting and moving including a nice left-right to the body and while Louis responded with a cracking right, the Frank Warren prospect took the last session to seal the deal.
There were chants of “T-T-Teessider’ before the main event as the boxer dubbed “One Bomb” produced an explosive first round to register his sixth professional victory.
Tom Hill set about MJ Hall from the opening bell, raining in a vicious barrage, felling the Midlander twice.
Up at seven the first time, Hall deserved a chance to continue but when he looked less than comfortable rising at “eight” on the second occasion, referee Ron Kearney wisely called it off at two minutes, six seconds.
Elder brother, Joe, clinched his fourth paid win and probably his best display, to the delight of his corner, Dave and Tom Binns and Steve Lamb.
He was up against Stourbridge veteran, Kevin McCauley, who provided four good rounds for the Redcar welterweight, who triumphed 40-36.
Continuing a good night for those from a TS postcode, Luke Cope totally bossed his four rounds with substitute opponent, Simas Volosinas.
The 21-year-old displayed the jab of the night as he dominated from the outset against the Lithuanian, referee Jamie Kirkpatrick scoring it 40-36.
NPBA team-mate Terry Tyers had a tricky test, certainly on paper, against seasoned campaigner Chris Jenkinson.
It wasn’t a walkover but Tyers had the edge throughout which made Jenkinson’s reaction to Mr Kirkpatrick’s 40-36 tally as somewhat surprising. The Bolton man looked totally non-plussed but the decision looked a fair one.
Teesside had plenty to cheer in the opening bout of the Phil Jeffries/ Steve Wraith event with new professional Michael Webster beating Dmitirij Kalinovski 40-36, Mr Kirkpatrick again doing the honours on the middle.
A boxer’s debut is always a tough assignment, but the South Bank cruiser stayed composed throughout with a polished performance.
Words: Roy Kelly
