Hurricane Danny storms to victory
Quartermaine celebrates victory. Pictures by Jack Perry
IN the biggest test of his unbeaten career, Danny Quartermaine fought with near frightening intensity.
He cranked up the heat in last night’s super-featherweight English title eliminator against fellow prospect Jack Hillier – and the Southampton prospect struggled to cope with the raging inferno before him.
The victory on Tommy Owens’ Coventry’s Sports Connexion show will go down as a technical decision. Hillier was gashed over the left eye by an accidental clash of heads in the opening minutes of the scheduled 10 rounder and with the wound wider and streaming blood referee Kevin Parker called a halt in the sixth, on the advice of the ringside doctor.
Quartermaine was then awarded a wide, 60-54 decision, much to the delight of his noisy army of Leamington fans.
Blood may have had the final word, but Quartermain’s steely determination spoke volumes before the stoppage. He appeared to relish the scrap, baring his gumshield in a scowl after one exchange.
Quartermaine assess the fight with Yours Truly
The 26-year-old had bossed the action from the get-go, driving Hillier back to the ropes and slamming shots to the body.
He was on his way to victory and Hillier – unbeaten in nine, like his opponent going into the crunch contest – sportingly admitted the fact.
“I didn’t box the way I can,” he said, “I didn’t show anywhere near what I’m capable of. It is what it is, I took the fight at three-and-a-half weeks notice, I knew the risk.”
Quartermaine, who, at the final bell, held aloft a banner tribute to friend and fellow boxer Ben Daly, fatally shot on a Leamington street in August, now craves fights on major TV promotions.
Danny said: “I could tell he (Hillier) was trying to push the last bit out of himself. I thought he might have been a bit cagier, but he came forward and made it tough.
“I said I’d make it awkward and horrible for him and that’s what I did.
“I want to get another fight in before Christmas, hopefully on a big show. I sold this show out. I want to step up.
“The win looks great on paper and it may open a few eyes. Hopefully, the big promoters who, for whatever reason, have shied away will call after this contest.
It was a battle fought at a frantic pace and, in the first, Hillier’s left looked a threat as he jabbed and looked to land hooks.
The injury that led to the end of the contest
But the template was set in the second as Quartermaine drove his opponent back, then unleashed hooks to head and body. The visitor attempted to place punches and turn the tide, but was inevitably forced to the ropes.
Jack spent long periods pinned against them in the third, traded jabs in the fourth before a looping right sent blood spilling down his face in the fourth.
The injury passed a doctor’s inspection in the fifth and Hillier, aware he was on borrowed time, attempted to find a shot that would turn the tide.
He had isolated success, but it was Quartermaine who invariably had the last word. By the fifth, he was dominating the action, digging in hurtful shots to the body before one heavy right again sent blood spilling from the gash above Hillier’s eye.
The Warwickshire hope had found another gear and Hillier, also bleeding from the nose, struggled to stay with him.
Referee Parker again led Hillier to the ringside doctor and then called a halt.
Quartermaine and trainer Edwin Cleary hold aloft the tribute to Ben Daly
In the dressing room, Quartermaine’s trainer Edwin Cleary said: “I thought Danny’s jab was good. I call him the Hurricane and he was a hurricane in the ring tonight.”
It’s a fair description. And last night Quartermaine issued a warning to the division’s top contenders that a savage storm is brewing.
Both scaled 9st 3lbs 12oz.