Gould title dream is dashed in one round

Gould is sent crashing. Pictures: MSN Images/BCB Promotions

IT took less than three minutes for the title dreams of Coseley’s Liam Gould to be dashed.

On a show dubbed “Collision Course” by promoters BCB, Gould collided with Ben Vaughan and lost his unbeaten record in under one round.

At Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on Friday night, one right hand ended the 25-year-old’s bid to take the vacant Midlands welterweight belt.

That devastating looping southpaw shot sent Gould crashing to the canvas. He made it to his feet at eight, but lurched drunkenly into a neutral corner, forcing referee Chris Dean’s intervention at two minutes 49 seconds.

Gould was gone and received oxygen as he sat on a stool.

Crestfallen, he said in his dressing room afterwards: “I got caught with a good shot – that’s boxing.”

Gould gained his big chance after six contest and had never been beyond five rounds. Against Northampton’s Vaughan, who went into the fight with an unblemished eight bout record, he attempted to take a major step-up in class.

The gamble badly backfired.

Former top amateur Vaughan looks a dangerous addition to the welter division and bigger things must surely beckon for the 24-year-old.

With the new belt around his waist, the champ told me: “If I set a fast pace, opponents either have to match it or run the risk of getting hurt. If they try to match it, the gaps appear.”

That was, essentially, the story of the fight.

Prowling the ring while the announcements were made, Vaughan (10st 6lbs 9oz) had the look of a man burning to get down to business.

And he began the scheduled 10 rounder bristling with bad intent. Gould (10st 5lbs 5oz) was speared with jabs and caught a heavy left to the body.

Vaughan proudly displays the Midlands welter belt

This was not a case of Vaughan plucking a big right out of the blue. Liam was repeatedly caught by the punch and copped a heavy head shot before his tormentor delivered the coup de grace.

The future looks bright for Vaughan who is a handful.

“I didn’t expect it to end early,” he said, “and wanted to do 10 rounds to show what I’m about.

“I’d love to fight for the English title and box on TV – I think the excitement I bring is made for TV.”

The English title is currently in the ownership of Worcester’s Owen Cooper, considered a very special talent.

He may have bigger fish to fry, but a clash with Vaughan down the line is the stuff boxing fans’ dreams are made of!