By Brendan Galbraith, reporting from ringside — Joe Rea v Phillip Townley (debut) – At 8.30pm, MC Harry McGavnock introduced the first bout of the evening – featuring Joe Rea v Phillip Townley. Rea started with intent, getting to work with hard rights and combos to the body. Rea, proceeded to pierce Townley’s guard and at the end of the first round Townley had a cut above his left eye. In the second, Rea began to introduce left and right uppercuts, but the cleaner shots that landed were Rea’s hard body shots. A powerful single shot from Rea almost had his opponent down. Townley, bravely countered with hooks, but Rea evaded most of these with his neat footwork – taking a step back after he had delivered his own shots. The third continued in a similar pattern. Townley finding it difficult to find his opponent and Rea inflicting more hard body shots. The most eye-catching punch from Rea was when he teed off by taking a quick step to the right and walking in a hard left to Townley’s head..
In the fourth, Rea, in total control, landed further hurtful body shots and feeling confident, dropped his hands and attempted a series of wild uppercuts. The consequence was a momentary loss of concentration that was exploited by Townley who he landed his best shot of the fight – a big sweeping right hook to Rea’s head. Rea, who looks like a strong and durable boxer, took the punch well. However, Rea’s corner barked orders – urging Rea to keep his gloves up. Overall, Townley had a tough opponent on his debut, but showed admirable resilience in absorbing Rea’s powerful shots – particularly the body shots. Rea, looks promising, he showed impressive boxing skills, footwork and is a dangerous body puncher. The judges scored this a shutout 36/40 to Rea.
Lee Noble v Ciaran Healy
Mark Burdis started MC duties for this bout and the rest of card. The first round was an untidy affair with a lot of punches from both men missing or hitting gloves, and several clinches. Noble shaded the opening round with better inside work and more eye-catching hooks towards the end of the round. The second round saw Noble force Healy on the back foot and Noble impressed with slick use of the left jab and accurate left and right head shots. Healy was down in the second with a combination of a slip and body shot – the ref did not rule a knock down.
Round 3. Healy started as the aggressor and had partial success with opening flurries. In a more open round, Noble landed good left flicking jabs and clean left single hooks to the body. Healy countered well with good head combos and probably shaded this round. Round 4. Noble stepped up the pressure from the beginning, landing a mixture of good body shots and right hooks. At the end the referee, Ian John Lewis raised Noble’s hand. The judges scorecards were 39/38 to Noble.
Kevin O’Hara v Mickey Coveney
Kevin O’Hara, coming off an impressive performance against Ricky Burns started this six-rounder as the aggressor – landing clean combos to the head. Coveney had some success downstairs, but O’Hara produced the better scoring punches and shaded the opener. Round 2. O’Hara asserted control and dominated with double combos that rocked Coveney – forcing him to hold on. O’Hara continued to land good left hooks to the body. Coveney had sporadic success with single body shots and singe jabs. Good round for O’Hara. Round 3. This fight started to open up even more and fight fans were entertained with toe-to-toe exchanges in the centre of the ring. O’Hara, looking the stronger and slightly quicker boxer pierced Coveney’s defence with hard shots – forcing the West Ham man to hold on. It wasn’t all one-sided, Coveney bravely countered to land his own shots. Round 4. Coveney pressed the action but walked into a stiff right hand. O’Hara continued his more accurate work, landing good combos to the body and head. Coveney’s left eye was beginning to swell. Round 5. Coveney again, came out as the aggressor forcing the action and scored with impressive straight lefts and combos to the body. Whilst Coveney continued to press, O’Hara refused to take a backward step and this set up an all-action 5th round. O’Hara landed a couple of eye-catching hooks towards the end of the round, but this was Coveney’s best round in the fight. As the bell sounded to commence the final round, Frank Warren took his seat at ringside. The sixth was an explosive session for O’Hara, who – going for a big finish – unleashed accurate combos upstairs and followed up with a strong left-handed head shot. Coveney, despite coming off second best in this toe-to-toe, gallantly still came forward – his face braced with determination and intent. At the end, the referee raised O’Hara’s hand. The judges scored this 59/56 to O’Hara.
Neil Sinclair v Janos Petrovis
Neil ‘Sinky’ Sinclair produced a masterclass in the opening round. Sinky immediately took control and scored powerful left-right one-two’s at least six times in the first half of the round. This was followed up with hard combos to the body and as the opening round closed Petrovis understandably had the look of an opponent who wasn’t enjoying the experience. Round 2. Sinclair biting hard on his gumshield, face snarled with intent, landed several hard straight rights to the head, followed by stiff hooks to the body. Petrovis was in trouble on the ropes at the end of the round and might have been stopped if he hadn’t been saved by the bell. At the close of the second round, Petrovis’ right eye was beginning to swell. Round 3. Sinclair continued to weaken his opponent with effective work downstairs and in particular a big right wobbled Petrovis. Petrovis, bravely held on, despite having to endure another one-sided beating. At the beginning of round four, Sinclair immediately resumed work to the body and floored Petrovis with a lethal combo to the body. At 28 seconds into round 4, the referee, Ian John Lewis, stopped the fight. A delighted Sinclair saluted his strong and vocal following.
Luke Wilton v Kevin Coglan
Wilton immediately started with intent by launching a flurry of combos and almost decked Coglan with a strong left uppercut. Wilton continued to overpower his lighter opponent and looked the stronger and faster boxer. Coglan did well to survive the opener. Round 2. Wilton landed two big rights and several clean body shots. The mid-part of this round saw too many clinches and Wilton looked to be smothering his work. Coglan, still in the fight, looked the busier towards the end of the round. In an action-packed third round, both men traded in the centre of the ring. Wilton landed cleaner shots and probably just nicked this round. Round 4. Wilton looked the stronger and dominant fighter. Coglan who was getting tagged with too many punches, still showed resilience – but the final round was one-way traffic to Wilton. At the end, referee, Victor Loughlin raised Wilton’s hand. The judges scored this a shutout 40-36 to Wilton.
Jamie Conlan v Anwar Alfadi
At this stage the arena was filling up nicely as we were one fight away from the main event and about to get a first look at debutant Jamie Conlan. Conlan, who boasts an impressive amateur pedigree is part of the Breen stable and had his father assisting Eamon Magee in the corner for his pro debut. Round 1. Alfadi makes an immediate wild lunge at Conlan – who coolly side steps the assault. Perhaps, the assured Alfadi figured he could try an unnerve debutant Conlan with early pressure. Alfadi, who fought a competitive draw with Luke Wilton, on the first Rogan-Sexton card, was unable to assert himself on the Conlan. Alfadi missed numerous wild lunges. Conlan confidently danced in and out of range to land his impressive arsenal, included several impressive hooks to the head and stiff shots to the body. Round 2. Conlan, bobbing and weaving and showing impressive footwork, evaded Alfadi’s wild single shots. Conlan showcased some impressive boxing skills and found his range with accurate rights to the head and stepping in to land strong rights to the body. Round 3. Alfadi is trying to force the action but cannot land a glove on the allusive Conlan, who is anticipating Alfadi’s hooks. Towards the end of the round Alfadi finally manages to land a couple of jabs. Round 4. Alfadi, who senses he needs a big round, catches Conlan with his best shot of the fight, but Conlan takes it well and comes straight back with an effective flurry. At the end of the round, there is a clash of heads that cut Conlan on the top of the head. As the bell sounds to conclude the contest, the referee raises Conlan’s hand. The judges scored this 39/37 to Conlan. Jamie Conlan looks a classy boxer and he confidently prevailed against a very awkward and dangerous opponent on his professional debut. The crowd acknowledge Conlan’s impressive victory with rapturous applause.