Kent Fight Night – Local favourites Dave Jones, Martin McDonagh and Martin Hillman provided the thrills on Fireworks Night
Boxing Connected’s first show back since lockdown was a huge success at Maidstone Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 6, with local favourites Dave Jones, Martin Hillman and Martin McDonagh all bouncing back from lengthy breaks with a win each.
It was the first event back at the popular Kent venue since February 2020, shortly before the first lockdown was enforced, and suitably complemented the busy weekend of firework displays, as the fighters came back with a bang!
Sheppey’s Dave Jones (9-2-1) made his dramatic comeback after three years away, believing his boxing career was all over after a broken eye socket sustained during his last fight with Martin Bakole in June 2018, which had followed on from a showdown with Greenwich powerhouse Daniel Dubois four months prior for the Southern Area heavyweight title.
Jones finished the show off in style, involved in a barnstormer of a bout with Swindon’s Phil Williams (3-33-1, 1KO).
Just a few days before his 40th birthday, Queenborough’s Jones was caught early on by an accidental head clash and was required to have six stitches after the fight.
Despite the early cut, Jones fired back under duress and caught Williams heavily in the second stanza, seemingly putting the journeyman over with a fantastic left hook, but the referee didn’t count it as a knockdown as Williams’ feet slipped from underneath him.
In the third and fourth rounds, Jones came on strong and, with a little more time, might have been able to claim a first ever career stoppage win.
Post-fight, he said, “I won! A special night for me being back in the ring, I never thought it would happen again. Thank you to everyone that came to support me and a special thank you to the man that has put so much work into me, my trainer and friend Sam Latham.”
The heavyweight favourite is now looking at winning honours in his last roll of the dice, “I’m looking at the Southern Area or potentially the English title, it depends who’s about at the time, even the British belt if the right fights are there.”
Hillman vs Commey
Sidcup’s exciting Martin Hillman (15-6, 2KOs) was back for the first time since the last card took place at the same venue over 21 months ago.
His opponent was former Ghanaian super-bantamweight champion Raymond Commey (19-15-1, 10KOs) and the pair engaged in a toe-to-toe thriller.
The 34-year-old from Accra, who has also won a WBA Pan African title during his 12-year career, showed his quality but not the quantity. It was a 50-50 fight all the way to the last round, but Hillman’s superior work rate took the referee’s decision by a single point.
Promoter Joe Elfidh commented on the thrilling encounter, “Martin always gets involved and provides entertainment every single time. Commey looked in great shape, but Hillman’s workrate won the fight for him.
“It was so entertaining that the crowd were on their feet by the end. We want Duane Winters next for the rematch, Martin is ready for him and they have unfinished business.”
Hillman last challenged for the Southern Area title against super-bantamweight champion Duane Winters in 2018 which saw him cruelly denied the win by a single point from the away corner in Bristol. He has now put together five straight wins with the intention of challenging for titles again.
McDonagh vs Turney
Trained by Billy Rumbol, lightweight Martin McDonagh (9-2) was back to the ring for the first time since his brave effort against Harlem Eubank in September last year, where the southpaw from Sheerness pushed the unbeaten prospect until he was stopped within 30 seconds from the end of the eight-round contest.
The Three Nations champion was subjected to a last-minute change of opponents, but adapted well to the change to dominate and defeat Carl Turney (0-17) comfortably on points, with unbeaten bantamweight sensation Dennis McCann supporting him from ringside on the night.
Undercard
Lanky featherweight Robert Caswell (1-0), trained by Adam Martin in London, started the show off against Luke Fash (2-69-3) and dominated from the very first bell all the way through to the last.
The man from Chatham was outstanding with his body shots and came close to forcing the stoppage against Fash, who is ultra tough but struggled in there and had to hold on to survive.
21-year-old middleweight from Sittingbourne Tyrone King (1-0) won every round in his pro bow and looked good whilst doing it.
He defeated Langold’s Luke Middleton (2-13-2) over four rounds, with audibly the largest support in the arena roaring him on to victory.
“He’ll be a fighter that will do really well, because he’s talented, with massive support,” said Elfidh. “This kid has got lots of potential so just needs to stay grounded and keep improving in the gym.”
The ‘Senegal Tiger’ Matar Sambou (2-9, 1KO), 37 from Margate, was in unfamiliar territory in his first ever fight in the home corner, but he rose to the occasion to defeat Camden’s Lee Devine (0-9).
Elfidh praised the ‘Senegal Tiger’ afterwards, “He likes to box, he’s a real fighter, he wants to box every other week if he can! He’s a handful on the road as well. The next show is in February or March and he’s welcome to box in the home corner again.”
‘The Burmese Python’, a former Taekwondo world champion, Nicole Barke (1-0), went straight into a six-rounder against a live opponent, who defeated a British debutant in her last fight.
Czech Republic’s Tereza Dvorakova (5-5, 1KO) certainly came to win and made life very difficult but Barke prevailed on points with a shutout points decision.
Elfidh was impressed with the 28-year-old from Luton, stating, “You can tell what she knows doing, she was comfortable and composed in there, and was impressively switch-hitting and winning every round comfortably against a lively and difficult opponent.”
Elfdh concluded, “It was a really strong show for the first one back since lockdown. Martin Hillman entertained as always and so did Dave Jones, plus the debutants showed there’s a whole new breed coming through.
“Next show will be in February or March next year, dates to be confirmed.”
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