Danny shone despite defeat in Top Boxer

Danny Costello…an exciting addition to the professional game

YOU have to tip your hat to new pro Danny Costello, a young man with a big following.

After just one outing, the welter took the plunge and competed against seven fighter – six of them unbeaten – in last Saturday’s Top Boxer tournament, staged at Solihull’s Planet Ice.

Danny should be applauded for snubbing the usual professional apprenticeship, served against oft-beaten journeymen.

To an extent, the gamble failed to bring home the hoped-for cash bonanza: Danny lost, by wafer-thin, split decision, to eventual winner Kirk Stevens in the semis. I had him winning – just, but the decision was no travesty.

The Nuneaton favourite showed himself to be a very usual addition to the pro game. There are plenty of positives to take from the experience.

He also showed dignity.

In a bizarre moment after the Stevens scrap, he was wrongly announced as winner. Then the mistake was made public. He took the error with exceptionally good grace.

“When my hand was raised, I was buzzing,” Danny told me. “To have it taken away…I was gutted.”

With commendable honesty, he admitted: “I thought I won, but when I went to my corner at the final bell I did say, ‘that was a bit close’. It was a tough fight and, usually, I wouldn’t box like that.

“Top Boxer was a good experience. It was only my second outing as a pro and I had two good fights on one night. Some wouldn’t want that until they’d had 10 bouts.”

In his opening bout of a memorable night, Danny oozed class in clearly outpointing Tommy Loach. He used the ring well and landed spiteful shots to head and body.

Danny has a quick opportunity to get back to winning ways: he’s on the March 11 bill at Coventry Connexion and his army of supporters will be out in force.

Danny – father to a son and stepson – turned pro after just 11 bouts. “I faced lads with double and triple my record,” he said.

“My movement is my strength – you don’t see many box and move the way I do and when I land, I land cleanly.

“I’m 22, time’s on my side. People have told me I can go right to the top and I think I can.”

During the day, Danny coaches at Nuneaton’s Boxing Clever Academy. “I work with troubled kids and do a lot of social work,” he said.

By night, he hones the skills that he hopes will take him to the top.

It’s too early to predict whether he’ll succeed, but it’s going to be very entertaining watching him try.