Melvin deliver a real beating to the body

Jake Melvin….totally dominated his first six rounder

JAKE Melvin has voiced his desire to fight for an Irish title like his father and trainer, former welter and light-welter contender Malcolm.

The welter took a step closer to that ambition last night (Saturday) by totally dominating unbelievably tough Bulgarian Georgi Velichkov. Somehow the visitor survived to the final bell, losing every round on referee Jamie Kirkpatrick’s card, 60-54.

I didn’t see a shot of any significance land on 21-year-old Melvin who has now won all four pro contests.

On BCB’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, show, Jake, taking part in his first six rounder, administered a fearful beating to the body.  At times it was like watching a lumberjack felling a mighty redwood.

Today, I’d imagine sitting down is a rather painful experience for Velichkov. Getting up more so.

By the third, the right side of his body was crimson as Melvin (10st 7lbs 8oz) drove home spiteful hooks.

It was my first ringside view of the young fighter billed out of Stourbridge, but with strong Birmingham roots.

He’s sharp, accurate and well-schooled.

I was, however, surprised by his height – the lad’s a very, very tall welter. A move to light-middle surely beckons.

At times, Jake’s boxing was a joy to watch – and he kept the combinations coming, no coasting, no sessions where his foot was eased off the pedal.

Velichkov (10st 5lbs 2oz) took an incessant beating.

The Bulgarian shipped a classy lead uppercut and left hook to the body in the first and, throughout, Melvin turned that piston lead into a venomous hook downstairs. Right uppercuts also took their toll.

Jake cranked things up in the fourth and, down the stretch, was doubling jabs, then slamming shots against Velichkov’s ribs.

The grim faced Eastern European took them all. In hindsight, that’s not a surprise: Velichkov may have now lost 15 of 19 (one draw), but he’s only failed to hear the final bell on a single occasion.

After the win, Melvin told me: “He was a very tough opponent and it was a good learning six rounder. What’s next? I definitely want another six rounder and, down the line, I’d like to fight for an Irish title.”

Dad Malcolm outpointed Shaun Cogan for the vacant Irish light-welter belt in a famous all-Birmingham battle back in 1993.

But Jake admitted his future may lie at a higher division.

“We’ll see,” he added. “I’ll stay at welter for as long as I can, but I’m still growing and I’d still be a tall light-middle.”