Webb not distracted by clowning Meikle

Swansea’s Tobias Webb won a six round points decision over Sunderland’s tricky journeyman, Jody Meikle, at the Oceana Nightclub, Swansea on a Paul Boyce Promotions show on Friday night.

Webb was consistent throughout the bout and displayed a good orthodox jab and timing in a slow-paced bout.

Meikle was handed his twenty-fifth professional loss and while he is used to being the loser in fights, he is an entertaining, erratic performer. Meikle was, at times, entertaining but also annoying; his plan to create time and put off his opponent seems to work well for him. Webb, to his credit, handled the clowning of his opponent well and stuck to the task without getting put off too much. Jody was certainly getting on referee Clarke Joslyn’s nerves as he deducted a point in the sixth round.

Super-middleweight Webb, having his tenth fight in the paid ranks, looks a good prospect and displays a good jab and right hand with decent speed. He showed patience and concentration against an opponent who distracts more than he hurts.

The official score was 60-53 in favour of the Swansea man and that’s how I saw it too.

Tobias Webb improves to 9-1-1 while Meikle drops to 3-25.

Performance of the night had to go to the mightily impressive Chris Jenkins of Swansea. In a light-welterweight bout, Jenkins was facing Lithuanian import Arturas Zbarauskas, who had lost his two previous fights by way of four-round points decisions. Jenkins has a solid amateur pedigree having competed at two Commonwealth Games and also the 2011 World Amateur Championships. Zbarauskas quickly found out how good a pedigree, when he was met with blazing hand speed and a torrent of shots from the opening bell.

A left hook to the body had the Lithuanian on the floor, grimacing with pain. He gallantly got up but was swiftly met with another barrage of body shots that ended his night after only 46 seconds of the first round.

Jenkins certainly wasn’t ‘hanging about’ and even though he wasn’t in the ring long, you could tell that he looks a very exciting prospect and one to watch.

Chris Jenkins record improves to 3-0 while Zbarauskas falls to 0-3.

Debutant Sam Eggington of Stourbridge upset local favourite Leon Findlay over four rounds in a welterweight contest.

The bout was closely fought with Findlay showing a good jab and hooks throughout and Eggington provided a solid looking uppercut and hooks. While Findlay used a good jab he did allow Eggington to outwork him at points in the bout. Eggington used an effective, strong uppercut at times. The bout was fought at a good pace and there were plenty of tough exchanges.

I gave the fight to Findlay by two rounds to one, with one even but on press row I was alone. Referee, Reece Carter scored it 39-37 to the away fighter Sam Eggington.

Sam Eggington’s career gets off to a winning start at 1-0 while Findlay drops to 2-1-1.

In lightweight action, Swansea man Greg Pickin outscored Ibrar Riyaz over four rounds. The local man gave an impressive display of controlled boxing behind a good, orthodox jab. Pickin controlled the tempo of the bout and coped well when under pressure. In the first a stinging left followed by a right momentarily stunned Riyaz and in the fourth he was put under a lot of pressure but came back well. Riyaz, of Reading gave a spirited display but was outboxed throughout. Referee Reece Carter gave all four rounds to Pickin.

Pickin moves on to 2-0; Riyaz drops to 4-37-1.

Fight of the Night was a light-middleweight bout between Swansea’s Darren Bushbye and Birmingham’s Dee Mitchell. The fight followed a pattern of Mitchell stalking forward while Bushbye boxed effectively, with the left jab while digging in body shots. Some big shots from both men were thrown and landed but Bushbye’s better educated boxing was winning the rounds. The third was particularly competitive and both men traded plenty of leather – I actually thought Mitchell nicked the round. The final round saw the local man re-establish control as he used his effective jab and outworked Mitchell.

Referee Clarke Joslyn scored it 40-36 to Bushbye.

Bushbye progressed to 3-0 while Mitchell drops to 9-22-1.

It was a good night's boxing, in nice surroundings and promoter Paul Boyce is building up a good stable of boxers.

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