Doe is set to provide ring entertainment

Dean Doe with Spencer McCracken Snr after his debut win

BOXING has certainly gained an entertaining new face in flashy Dean Doe.

The lean light-welter is a member of the travelling community – and the travelling community was out in force to witness the teenager’s triumphant debut at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, on Friday night.

Hands low, Doe, from Stourport, shimmied and showboated his way to a 40-36 four round win over Casey Bradnum.

Managed by Spencer McCracken Snr, Doe is from fighting stock: his cousin is Brett Fidoe, who faced the very best in a near 100 bout career.

But there was drama to be overcome before 18-year-old Doe had his hand raised by referee Ryan Churchill.

Doe suffered a gashed right eye in the second and he dabbed at the wound as blood flowed freely. It looked a nasty injury, yet fine corner-work saw the cut sealed completely. Not a drop of claret spilled in the contest’s second half.

I’ve watched Essex’s Bradnum fight before and, despite only one win in 28, he’s tough and comes for a scrap. He didn’t give Doe an easy ride.

Dean (10st) opened with fast combinations, mixing the shots to head and body. After that mini crisis in the second, he picked his punches at distance, connected with an eye-catching uppercut and landed two rights to the body in quick succession to end the third.

With victory almost in the bag, Doe indulged in showboating down the stretch, beckoning Bradnum (10st 7lbs) in and introducing a showbiz shuffle.

Casey simply grinned and plugged away.

Before the contest, Dean told me: “I am flashy, to be honest, and I have some flashy shorts to go with my flashiness. I mean, very flashy shorts.”

They had tassels, but I’ve seen flashier trunks.

He has no doubt he can reach the top. It’s way too early to make an assessment, but it’ll be fun watching him try.