Full fight reports from the MTK Golden Contract featherweight tournament
'White Chocolate' Tyrone McCullagh was the first of four semi-finalists to get through their quarter-finals successfully
There were stoppages, thrills, spills and all sorts of drama as Leigh Wood and Ryan Walsh both earned £5,000 bonuses.
The MTK Golden Contract featherweight tournament quarter-finals took place on Friday, October 4 at the York Hall in London, with the semi-finals scheduled for February / May and the finals planned for May / June. The winner of the brand-new competition is line to receive a two-year, five-fight deal, with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed.
An entertaining undercard saw impressive victories for Jacob Robinson, Sam Gilley and Mitchell Frearson as the venue filled to capacity for a famous night – all the results below:
Bout 1
Featherweight, 8 Rounds
J. ROBINSON (WAL) vs. S. DAVIS (ENG)
Unbeaten Cardiff featherweight Jacob 'Baby Jake' Robinson (7-0) put on a perfect performance against Birmingham's 'Showtime' Sean Davis with an 80-72 shutout points win. The 25-year-old southpaw shone in his first ever eight-rounder.
Robinson:“I’m happy with the performance. I thought he’d commit more because he’s a former English champion and a very good fighter. I did the eight rounds and shook him up in the last round. He’s very experienced and I want step-up fights now. I want regional titles.”
Bout 2
Welterweight, 6 Rounds
S. GILLEY (ENG, 10st 10lb) vs. A. SOLANO (NIC)
Sam Gilley (9-0) must have had somewhere else he needed to be tonight as he rushed his opponent from the opening bell and got him out of there at 2:49 in the first round. Nicaraguan Arnoldo Solano (14-21) had only been stopped three times in 34 contests before he met Walthamstow's 25-year-old welterweight talent Gilley.
Gilley: “I expected to stop him but I expected it later. I didn’t expect to put him out cold in the first round. It’s all down to my trainer and the hours we’ve been putting in in the gym.
“What MTK Global is doing is amazing and it’s a big platform. I can bang with both hands so I’ll be a problem for a lot of people. I want the Southern Area title.”
With three stoppage wins in his last four outings, the East Londoner will certainly be seen in a title fight very soon.
Bout 3
Middleweight, 4 Rounds
M. FREARSON (ENG, 11st 6lb 9oz)vs. R. DOUGLAS JR (ENG, 11st 4lb 9oz)
Mitchell Frearson (4-0-1), 27 from Hornchurch, won 39-37 on points against Rod Douglas Jr (2-4).
Frearson:“I think I boxed to instructions. I could’ve upped the tempo more but he was a game opponent. He didn’t give me any respect so I just put him on the jab.
“I’m back to winning ways. I put a lot of pressure on myself in my own head. I’m starting off with a clean slate here. I did well with tickets so I’m buzzing with the whole thing.”
Bout 4
Featherweight #GoldenContract quarter-final, 10 Rounds
T. McCULLAGH vs. R. NAJIB
Tyrone McCullagh moved up to (14-0) with a 96-94; 97-93; 98-92 unanimous points win over 'Lionheart' Razaq Najib (11-4).
McCullagh: “One down, two to go! I’m one step closer to meeting my pet panda, ‘Just Dave.’
“There’s still a way to go. I think it’s down to inactivity partly. I’m going to keep training now and staying active and it’s going to come. I’ll work on putting the shots together and on staying active. I felt the pace in there because it was very high. There’s a lot better in me.”
Bout 5
Featherweight #GoldenContract quarter-final, 10 Rounds
J. DICKENS (ENG, 8st 13lb 6oz) vs. C. RAMOS (ESP, 8st 13lb 1oz)
Jazza Dickens (28-3) wins a decision victory over EBU European Union featherweight champion Carlos Ramos (11-2) to join Tyrone McCullagh in the semi-finals.
Dickens: “You’ve got to enjoy it. Boxing is too hard not too. This was all about getting through to the semi-final so I played it safe. Why would I try and knock him out when I can make sure? I just thought I’d jab him off and make sure I was in the semi-finals. No disrespect to him but I didn’t have to go to top gear.”
It was Jazza's second points win in six contests, having entered the fight off the back of four straight stoppage wins and a significant UD win over Nathaniel May (21-2). The ringside judges ruled it 99-91 and 97-92 twice in favour of the 28-year-old Liverpudlian who retained his IBF European featherweight title in the process.
Bout 6
Featherweight #GoldenContract quarter-final, 10 Rounds
H. SOCARRAS (CUB, 8st 13lb 3oz) vs. R. WALSH (ENG, 9st)
British featherweight champion Ryan Walsh scored a ninth-round TKO over unbeaten Cuban Hairon Socarras.
Walsh:“I’ve sparred my brother Liam throughout because he’s the best. It’s the best I could have asked for because he’s better than everyone in this competition. I have to thank him and all my team. I can’t thank MTK Global enough.
“Actions speak louder than words. I never said too much about this. I knew he was a good fighter and so are all the others – but you’re going to have to be very, very good to me. I’ll fight anybody, not just in this tournament but anywhere.”
Bout 7
Featherweight #GoldenContract quarter-final, 10 Rounds
L. WOOD (ENG, 8st 13lb 8oz) vs. D. JOYCE (IRE, 8st 13lb 6oz)
It was the exact same result in a row, as Nottingham's Leigh Wood won in the ninth and penultimate round via technical knockout.
Wood: “I’ve told everyone I have power and nobody listens. I proved in my last fight that I can box. I’m well educated but tonight I was in with an Olympian. Let that sink in. In the next round, I’ll do what I did and pick to fight the best. Who’s the best with the bookies? That’s who I’ll pick…”
Bout 8
Super-welterweight – Live Float
R. BARLOW (ENG) vs. Z. B'VICIUS (LIT)
Randal Barlow (1-0) kicked off his professional boxing career with a 40-36 points win Zygimantas Butkevicius (2-25).
Semi-Finalists:
Tyrone McCullagh (14-0)
Jazza Dickens (28-4)
Ryan Walsh (25-2-2)
Leigh Wood (23-1)
Semi-finals due to take place in February/May.