Melvin looks sharp in landslide victory

Melvin piles on the pressure late in the contest

LIKE the good pro he is, Scott Melvin shrugged off the disappointment of a scuppered Midlands title defence, stayed focused and produced a polished display to outpoint Brayan Mairena.

The Chelmsley Wood “Terrier” was to have defended his lightweight belt against unbeaten Ameen Khalid on GBM’s Saturday show at Coventry Skydome.

The mouth-watering clash went south late on through medical issues and, instead, Melvin, who had trained for a tough 10 rounder, found himself in a mark time encounter with Nicaragua’s Mairena.

The 23-year-old could have been forgiven for going through the motions. Yet he looked sharp and purposeful in taking a 60-54 decision from referee Chris Dean after six entertaining rounds.

“It was a bit of a nightmare, but these things happen,” Scott said of the scrapped title fight.

“I got on with the job and produced some nice combinations.”

Mairena, with close to 60 bouts under his belt, is a known commodity in the West Midlands, having lost to Tommy Collins and Dylan Cheema. He’s also been stopped by Gamal Yafai.

He’s tough, game and durable, but lacked the skill and speed to trouble Melvin, who has lost only one of 10.

Mairena attempted wild left hooks in a bout dominated by Melvin’s left hand.

Scott connected with a lovely left hook in the third after rolling under Mairena’s swings and by the fourth was fighting with swagger.

Hands by his side, he peppered Mairena’s head and body with jabs, then drove rights to the ribs.

It was an impressive display of boxing and Scott can now look forward to more meaningful contests.

He added: “I want to step up and fight for the English title by the end of the year.”