Marshall hits out at Commonwealth snub for Wilkinson

Marshall with his champion boxer, Vicky Wilkinson

VICKY Wilkinson’s trainer has spoken of his frustration over the failure to gain Commonwealth title status for the Wombourne boxer’s forthcoming bout with Kirsty Hill.

Instead, the pair will meet for the Midlands junior-lightweight – super-feather in modern boxing language – belt.

That has done little to placate Wilkinson’s coach Tony Marshall – and it’s the geography that has got his goat. Hill resides in Grimsby.

“As far as I’m aware and unless they’ve drastically changed the map of the British Isles, Grimsby isn’t in the Midlands – and I’m a lorry driver,” he said.

I can answer that one. Boxing area boundaries differ from traditional geographical boundaries. That has always been the case. For example, back in 1994 I made the long trek to Hull to watch Walsall’s Cordwell Hylton stop Albert Call, from Grimsby, for the vacant Midlands cruiser crown.

And – thanks to the Midlands arm of the Boxing Board of Control – we have a cracking 10 rounder. The governing body has put the Wilkinson-Hill contest out for purse bids and stated it must take place by the end of October.

I’ve watched Hill from ringside, she’s very accomplished. In her fourth pro fight in March, the 31-year-old suffered her first loss, losing on points over six rounds to Elizabeth Oshoba. No disgrace there – Nigeria’s Oshoba had won her previous three paid outings by stoppage and Hill made the Bethnal Green battle close, 58-56.

Wilkinson holds the Midlands belt and – in a seven fight career – has twice fought for Commonwealth honours. She, too, is coming off a loss. In March, she stepped up to lightweight and was stopped in six by powerful Rhiannon Dixon. Body punches did for Vicky that night.

Marshall’s disappointment over the failure to get Commonwealth title billing for Wilkinson-Hill is worthy of sympathy. Women boxers with lesser credentials have fought for the titles.

Last September, Vicky controversially drew with Kristine Shergold for the Commonwealth junior-lightweight crown. Shergold entered that contest with six losses in 13 – and was 42-years-old.

But remember, the Board of Control’s Midlands Council has no sway in arranging or ordering Commonwealth title contests.

Marshall said: “Kirsty Hill is a good fighter. We’ve been told the fight can’t be for the Commonwealth title because she’s coming off a loss. But so is Vicky.

“We’ll take the fight because there’s no one else out there for Vicky.”

Of his boxer’s loss to Rhiannon Dixon, he said: “Vicky walks around at feather – super-feather, she can’t put weight on. I’ve always said she’s a super-feather.

“Dixon looked drained at the weigh-in and the difference between them on fight night was massive. Rhiannon was just too big.

“But Vicky was in the fight until caught by big punches in the sixth.”