Michael Webster’s bout was all-too-brief, sadly, but there was enough to show that here is a fella worth watching.
His appearance on the Ellis Corrie-Chad Ellis undercard lasted only three minutes but it was impressive stuff, defeating Andrius Ruzas who was forced to retire after an all-action first round because of some heavy damage to his right eye.
Those three minutes were some of the best entertainment off the night as the Middlesbrough cruiser went to work, highly effectively, to the head and body of the Lithuanian, now based in Kingston upon Hull, who deserves credit for his contribution to the contest.
Webster, who has two very wise heads in his corner in Michael Marsden and Denis Power, always looks in incredible nick and fights with aggression which has brought him four straight wins, two inside the distance.
There are two unbeaten cruisers in the North-East- Adam Gair is at 5-0 – and wouldn’t it be nice to see them fight each other?
The effort made by Ruzas was not untypical of the lads brought in to face the home boxers, in fact one even won.
Matt McCallum also had Lithuaninan opposition when he made a successful debut in the world of professional boxing.
The 29-year-old had fought as Matt Stark in the unlicensed game and done well by all accounts, so well he decided to give Marquess of Queensberry a go.
Part of MTK’s Gateshead operation, the light-heavyweight began in bright fashion against Vaidas Balciauskas, landing a few decent rights to the body.
Balciauskas had some success in the second and third sessions, as did ‘The Wolf’ who despatched a few heavy rights to the Baltic man’s head.
After a tight final round, McCallum (pictured) got the nod 40-37 from referee Ron Kearney.
In a rare all-English scrap Steve Robinson was taken the distance for the first time by Phil Williams when Swalwell met Swindon.
After two quick fire wins to start his career, Hightower had yet to hear the bell to start the second round.
But the 29-year-old was not just taken into new territory, he had his head jolted back by a Williams right in the second and another.
Given the immense size of ‘USSR’, his head is an appealing target, but he took the shots and delivered a couple of felling rights win the last for a 40-37 result from Mr Kearney.
The most amusing moment of the night came at the conclusion of Anth Ornsby’s fourth pro win against Qasim Hussain.
The Sheffield boxer, having shown a little fire in the last three minutes, celebrated at the final bell, even posing for pictures with esteemed punch-lines photographer, Jennifer Charlton.
Surely, it had to be irony from the 26-year-old who was boxing for the 108th time?
But it appeared not, when MC Terry Kavanagh read out Ron Kearney’s 40-36 scoreline, Mr H looked distinctly unimpressed. Kevin Weaver refereed.
Ornsby boxed nicely, including some short rights and lefts in the first, a number of body shots in the second and a rousing finale at the end.
Talking of the end, it’s a fond farewell to one of the North-East’s longest-serving and most popular figures, Colin Innes.
Colin led the Ornsby corner and led it with customary quality and if this is his finale, what a way to go out.
Innes was a fine boxer in a career spanning over a half-century of bouts in the 90s, the highlight being a ninth-round triumph to lift the Northern Area featherweight title against Michael O’Neill, part of a trilogy with ‘Chip’, which saw honours shared, a win apiece and a draw.
All the best to you Colin.
Finally, on to the only away victory of the MTK show and a first loss for Lee Reeves.
The promoters paraded the Irishman for the first time in the UK and Ireland after the 25-year-old had begun his career with five wins in North America, four inside the distance.
He met his match here, the Ukraine’s Artur Davydenko putting him down in the second and producing a very good display.
Any cynics waiting for the referee to award a draw were, thankfully, left disappointed as Kevin McIntyre, correctly, raised Artur’s left hand in a 38-37 victory.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
