Norman score brutal body shot knockout

Ryan Churchill raises Dylan Norman’s hand in victory. Pic: Jack Perry

ONE paralysing left hook to the body signalled the explosive start of Dylan Norman’s journey with Jon Pegg and Eastside gym.

The short punch, delivered with venom, sent Glasgow southpaw Tony Morton crashing to the canvas as if shot, his face contorted in agony.

And there he remained, writhing in pain. At Coventry’s Sports Connexions last night, Norman delivered a KO for his new corner at two minutes 53 seconds of the second round.

It had been coming from the very start of the scheduled four rounder.

Knowle’s Norman, now unbeaten in eight, had caught Morton with that sweet hook downstairs time and time again – and the Scot’s expression showed the punch was taking its toll. In the first, he drew a deep breath after one smashed against his reddened flank.

Dylan (10st 4lbs 6oz) looked impressive, but, without raining on anyone’s parade, the win should be put into perspective.

Morton ((9st 10lbs 2oz) has now lost all 11 professional contests and been stopped four times. He was never going to upset the applecart. He should, frankly, consider his future in this brutal business.

But such fighters can make things messy, even ugly, for a prospect.

Norman dealt with him quickly, clinically and violently.

It was the lightweight’s first fight since parting ways with former top Birmingham middleweight Wayne Elcock and the changes made in style are already apparent.

Norman, one of the game’s truly nice individuals, is learning the Eastside way.

He has been slowed down, picked his shots and continually touched with the left lead before unloading big stuff.

Norman, known as a volume puncher, showed patience for the brief time the bout lasted.

“I’m learning to take my time a lot more,” he told me. “I’m picking my shots instead of throwing my shots and the shots I’m picking are being thrown with intent.

“I thought it was a good performance. I’m still adapting to my new team and stuck to the game plan.

“I was catching him from the start and at the end of the first Jon (Pegg) said don’t go to the head, come down with the right hook to the body, then the left.

“I knew it was over when that left landed, I felt the connection.”

He added: “I know you can’t jump to anything major after that. I’m still learning, I always stay in the gym and what I will say is the best is yet to come.”

Norman buried hooks to both sides of Morton’s body and at the end of the first I wrote in my notebook: “Only a matter of time.”

Time ran out very quickly for the away boxer.