One scare for Melvin on way to clear win

Melvin and Markov…Stourbridge welter has won five on the spin

TALL welter Jake Melvin had to overcome one moment of drama before peeling off his fifth straight win at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham city centre, last night.

The 21-year-old had boxed impressively against tough Bulgarian Iliyan Markov, with the left jab a precise, hurtful weapon. He hooked off it well and sunk the same fist into experienced Markov’s flank.

Then, in the fifth of the scheduled six rounder, Melvin, from Stourbridge, was nailed by a right. He was momentarily frozen by the shot and Markov went for broke, his attacked stemmed by the bell. It rang at the right time for Jake: a few more seconds and he may have found himself in very deep waters.

In all honesty, Melvin – still very much a work in progress – was the victim of his own bravado.

He was caught by the same punch twice early in the session – and elected to fight fire with fire, trade with his opponent.

It should not be turned into a drama. Melvin was not dropped, he re-asserted himself in the sixth and took a 59-55 decision over a man who has mixed in very good company and has had over 40 fights.

He let his concentration lapse and was admonished for it – in no nonsense terms – by dad and trainer Malcolm Melvin, former British title contender, between rounds.

It is a lesson learned.

Melvin (10st 10lbs 4oz) acknowledged it afterwards. He told me: “It wasn’t the best performance. When I get caught, I just want to show I’m not hurt. It’s something I’ve got to stop doing.”

He added: “I probably won’t be out again until after Christmas, but we’ll still be working on stuff in the gym.”

That brief lapse should not over-shadow a performance that showcased Melvin’s development. He doubled the jab in the first and caught Markov (10st 12lbs) with a cracking left hook to the body.

Everything came off the jab and the Bulgarian hardman certainly felt a right downstairs in the second. My notes for the third state: “Markov being broken down” as Jake continued to work the body, yet he did connect with one chopping right – a taste of what was to come.

By the fourth, Melvin was opening up with both hands. It was plain-sailing, fairly one-way traffic until Markov sprang into life in the penultimate round.

Melvin was rocked by a right and, rather than move out of trouble or claim his opponent, tried to blaze back. The machismo could’ve cost him dear.

It didn’t and Jake can now prepare for a 2024 that will see the calibre of opposition cranked up, the test become stiffer.