Tyler survives scares to take another title

McGowan connects with a left. Picture: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer

TYLER Denny’s heart-warming Cinderella story continued before the TV cameras on Saturday night with hard fought victory over rugged Macaulay McGowan.

But the southpaw was pushed to the very limit before capturing the vacant EEU middleweight belt, which is a new title on me.

The true worth of that honour may be questionable, the quality of the contest, served on Boxxer’s star-studded Resorts World show, was not.

It had the dramatic ebbs and flows in fortune that make for a cracking clash. I warned Tyler was in for a very hard night against a man who had taken former world champ Sergio Martinez the full distance – and Wythenshawe’s McGowan lived-up to my “dangerman” billing.

When the dust had settled after 10 gripping rounds, Denny had his hand raised by split decision. Judges Mark Lyson and Kieran McCann both had him winning 96-94, while Massimo Barrovecchio had McGowan a wide 97-93 victor.

I had Tyler, from Rowley Regis, two rounds up, but a media colleague next to me gave it to McGowan by a single point. It was that kind of fight.

The fact Macaulay, cut over the left eye in the sixth and bleeding from the nose, dragged the local favourite into deep waters is beyond argument.

The title fight seemed to be going Denny’s way until the eighth when a left hook caused him to momentarily freeze. McGowan, tall and with a tight guard, sensed blood and delivered another big hook in the round’s dying embers. That shot clearly shook Tyler (11st 5lbs 5oz) and he attempted to box and move in the ninth, only to be again rattled by a left hook.

Those who had McGowan (11st 5lbs) a winner were swayed by his grandstand finish and had neglected 31-year-old Tyler’s superiority in the bout’s first half. My notes for the fourth state: “Denny beginning to dominate.”

He landed hefty right hooks to the body, countered well off the ropes and bossed exchanges. He was warned for careless headwork in the sixth and, seconds later, McGowan turned angrily away from the action with blood spilling from the corner of his eye.

The gash seemed to spur him on. By the seventh, McGowan was beginning to string punches together and, in the eighth, finally connected with heavy ammo.

Tyler’s noisy army of supporters fell silent as their hero attempted to overcome his first mini-crisis of the encounter.

He did that and detonated a thunderous left off McGowan’s whiskers in the 10th. He had survived the storm and sealed victory.

Afterwards, Tyler admitted: “Macauley McGowan pushed me all the way – respect to him. I’m buzzing.”

Of the latest belt in his trophy cabinet, Tyler said: “Now I’m after the proper one, let’s have it, let’s have it for Birmingham!”