32 year old Lewis Frimpong had a dream fulfilled winning his first professional title outpointing undefeated Connor Adaway 98-94 on referee Lee Every’s scorecard for the Southern Area Featherweight title.
With coach Andy Gill at Evolve Elite gym in his corner, Frimpong came out firing on cylinders looking to close down Adaway who’s plan was to keep Frimpong at range and use his boxing skills to outbox him. It was a fight conducted at a frenetic pace at the half way stage most observers had the come forward Frimpong ahead by 1-2 rounds. The pace continued relentlessly into the second part of the contest and whilst the score card was considered wider than thought at ringside the right man got the nod. After the fight Adaway was taken to hospital with a broken rib and shows the courage displayed by the Plymouth man. Adaway will now continue two weights down in his natural Bantamweight while Frimpong will no doubt be using this as a springboard for higher honours. What is for sure Frimpong will give all UK Featherweights a lot of trouble.
Co-chief support was a final eliminator for the English Super-Lightweight title between Derby’s Sajid Abid and Londoner Mikey Sakyi. Sakyi had fought previously at a much higher level but it was Abid who came out firing and won the first three rounds. Round 4 was going the same way until Sakyi launched a vicious punch putting Abid on the canvas for a count of 8. Abid got up and carried on throwing for the rest of the round. Rounds 5 through 10 saw Abid generally throwing more and finally getting the nod on referee Every scorecard 96-94.
The other co-chief support saw Goodwin fighter Mitch Frearson trained by Paul Kavanagh (8-0-1) take on fellow undefeated Balraj Singh from the Terry Steward stable in an eliminator for the Southern Area Middleweight title. Frearson came out peppering Singh and clearly won the first two rounds. In round 3 Frearson launched at attack and dumped Singh to the canvas dropping his two times. Singh went back to his corner at the end of the third and everyone wondered whether he would come out for the fourth. He did but 6 seconds later he was on the canvas again and referee Every waived it all over. Frearson now moves on towards titles and manager Steve Goodwin will be plotting his course.
Fresh from his win on Channel 4’s SAS WHO DARES WINS 24 year old Joshua Gustave took on former Southern Area title challenger Robbie Chapman in a six round contest. With Gustave’s original opponent pulling out 10 days before the fight Gustave took the bold move to move up two weight categories to take on Chapman. Chapman had knocked out a positive record opponent a week earlier but Gustave showed boxing skills and tenacity to put on an impressive display running out a 58-56 winner.
What was billed a real 50-50 clash at Cruiserweight ended up being a shut out victory for the busier Lewis Oakford(1-0) against Ross McGuigan (3-1). Oakford landed the heavier artillery and was just busier throughout en route to victory.
First on was super lightweight Pat Gill out of the same gym as Frimpong and he took on a tough opponent in Kasey Bradnum coming off a win the previous week in Colchester. Gill put on his most impressive performance in his career and won 4-36 moving to 5 undefeated. The Evolve Elite gym is becoming a force to be reckoned with under Andy Gill currently hosting two Southern Area Champion and an English title tilt on the horizon. Gill junior will be heading towards adding to the belt holders in that gym. He next boxes 17th June back at the same venue.
“One of the most impressive debuts” in a long time was how manager Steve Goodwin described Fred Secular’s 40-36 win over Jordan Grannum. Former amateur champion Secular boxed with composure and skill en route to his victory and is back out on 24th June.
“The Major” Arfan Iqbal returned after 4 ½ years out of the ring and hit Jake Darnell with heavy artillery en route to a 40-36 win. Iqbal aims to build momentum and is looking to get back out in May 2023 in Derby.
All in all was one of the best small hall non TV shows seen at York Hall in a long time. The atmosphere was electric and the fights lived up to expectation.
