Sheffield Boxing Centre

Read the write up from the BritishBoxing.net by Jim Wright:

Sheffield's super-middleweight starlet Jez Wilson made it three stoppage victories in a row against game foe Salford's Nigel Travis at the Grosvenor Hotel in Sheffield on Friday night.

In four brutal rounds of the scheduled six-twos, Wilson would not be denied his third scalp in the pro ranks but he had to get through his toughest assignment yet as Travis looked to carry his amateur pedigree into the paid game.

Round one saw Wilson jump on the Salford stylist with some wicked inside work to the body. This soon turned into a battle of wills with both men unloading and refusing to give any ground. But Jez kept finding a half step of space to let the right go and buzz Travis with some sweet work upstairs.

A lot of both fighters' work was getting spoiled inside because many of the exchanges ended in an ugly tangle for star referee Howard Foster to unravel.

The way the super-middleweight combatants were arched over and not giving any ground often resembled a rugby scrum, the type that turns into a scrap between the front row when the referee makes the players stand up.

And by the end of the second Foster pulled the fighters together and read them the riot act. The third witnessed both fighters still stooping low, both fighters looking battle scarred and both fighters still in it. Wilson was cut over the left eye and on the bridge of the nose whereas Travis was looking worryingly damaged with what seemed like his whole face swelling and reddening, such was the quality of work from both men.

But Smokin' Jez Wilson just would not be denied. The more room the fighting fireman found the more his missile-like straight right exploded on the face of Travis. Concerned glances were being exchanged by the protagonists at ringside and the experience of the referee Foster brought proceedings to an end at 1-32 of the fourth.

Afterwards, a reflective Wilson said “it was a tough fight, he caught me a few times around the top of the head, and it was a good victory."

28-year-old Wilson now advances to 3(3)-0, balancing his fight career with life as a firefighter. Many of his colleagues came out to support their man and a fair bit of money was raised just before the fight as some of the Sheffield Boxing Centre's youngsters went round with a collection pot to raise funds for the families of the Worcestershire tragedy – a nice touch.

Promoter and trainer Glyn Rhodes must be thanking his lucky stars the day ex-paratrooper Billy Boyle landed into his Hillsborough gym. The ticket selling entertainer didn't disappoint his army of fans with a ferocious Dempsey-style demolition of Leeds' journeyman Clint Johnson at light-heavyweight.

Boyle, now down to 12st 10lb after debuting against big Dave Ingleby at heavyweight and having campaigned at cruiserweight, carried all of his power into his new division.

Billy came flying out of the blocks and soon unloaded his best weapon, a text book right that shook Johnson to his boots. The Leeds visitor shut up like a clam and tried to weather the storm. But this was hurricane Billy, and he had too much for Johnson.

Referee Howard Foster had seen enough of the one-way traffic coming Johnson's way and waved things off at 1-11 of the second round. The venue erupted with the referee's intervention, a testimony to the popularity of the charismatic campaigner.

Modest Billy seems to be taking everything in his stride, he reflected, “I just fight anyone Glyn asks me to, I am really enjoying it!”.

Boyle progresses to 5 (3)-0, with his reputation and momentum moving forward nicely. Lee ‘Brown Sugar' Edwards sprinkled some sweetness onto his performance against Rotherham's Paul Royston at middleweight with a shut out victory over six-twos.

Royston played his part in this entertaining Sheffield/Rotherham local derby clash by bringing the best out of Lee by putting him under a bit of pressure.

The opening round was dominated by Edwards staking his claim for the centre of the ring and dictating things behind a cracking jab and an improved defence. A bit of needle was developing throughout the fight with Royston, working on the outside, keen to let everyone know that his opponents work wasn't causing any distress.

But Edwards stayed composed and did all the vast majority of his work with the left that Paul couldn't find an answer for. Yet the Rotherham workhorse, in his thirteenth fight since his debut back in February this year, showed a lot of heart and stayed the full course of the fight, making Edwards earn his victory. Royston petulantly finished the fight with his hands down by his side, making a statement that he wasn't hurt by Edwards' power.

Lee commented after, “Glyn told me after the first to keep using my left, and it isn't very often that he tells you not to throw rights!”

A comprehensive victory for Lee who seems to perform better when put under a bit of pressure.

A battle of the debutants opened the show with Kettering's Chris Kitson starting his career with a win over Manchester's Senol Dervis who was unlucky to pick up an injury that limited his chances in this light-welterweight contest over six-twos.

Dervis nicked the opening round by taking the initiative while Kitson was having a good look at the Manchester man.

The fight turned in the second when midway through the round Dervis, clearly worried, gingerly extended his right arm a couple of times, assessing if he could carry on with what looked like a damaged elbow. He bravely made it through the full six rounds but after telegraphing his injury to all, Kitson accepted the invitation and piled on the pressure to take the fight 59-55.

It was good to see so many at the Grosvenor, passionately supporting boxing at a show that emphatically delivered the goods, a job well done.