What a year, what an afternoon! Get ready for Midlands awards
Williams and Tollerton after their fight of the year contender
I REMEMBER a Board of Control official – I won’t give the date or Midlands venue – moving me from one ringside seat to another, until I’d travelled all four sides.
It was a bizarre game of musical chairs. The promoter would guide me to one seat, the official would step forward and say: “You can’t sit there.”
Eventually, I left the venue in something of a huff.
Perhaps I should’ve counted my blessings. In the 1970s, former British champ Wally Swift Snr physically ejected me from a seat he believed was his at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. I didn’t argue.
Under the watch of boss Matt Harris, the Midland Board’s public and press persona has changed a lot since my seat swapping evening.
The man, who I first encountered and interviewed as a fresh faced pro prospect, really has embraced the media.
And the sweeping changes are no more evident than in the annual Midlands awards afternoon, which takes place this Sunday at Cannock’s Premier Suite.
I attended previous ceremonies and, frankly, felt a little underwhelmed. I believed our brave band of boxers deserved a little more razzmatazz.
Last year, at the Premier Suite, mine host Scott Murray and Matt provided the glitter. It was a great event featuring fine food, entertainment and a cavalcade of ring stars, past and present.
This Sunday’s show – and Scott knows how to put on a show – is a sell-out and will be even better.
That’s because of the quality of local boxing action fans feasted on in 2023. It was a truly great year for upsets and thrilling battles.
Matt told me: “It sold out weeks ago. We have licence holders coming from all over the area, from Grimsby to Northampton, Hereford to Leicester to Nottingham.”
I can’t wait. Covering small hall shows can, sometimes, be a grind, but Sunday’s assignment is definitely one of the job’s perks.
For edge of the seat excitement, 2023 was a stellar year and it’s the male fight of the year category that I’ll be monitoring with sweaty palms.
Three crackers have been shortlisted – and the judges faced a dilemma.
The September epic between Lincoln’s DJ Tollerton and Danny Williams, from Hereford, was one of the best fights I’ve watched in near half-a-century of ringside reporting. Williams was dropped, but showed unbelievable courage to blaze back, have Tollerton on the brink of exhaustion before losing the points decision.
My report stated: “Select the best contests from any of the Rocky movie franchise, blend together the most savage moments from those bloody brawls and you are approaching the thrilling action that unfolded during DJ Tollerton’s epic victory over Danny Williams.
“For raw, edge-of-the-seat excitement last night’s Planet Ice, Solihull, war cannot, surely, be beaten this year.”
The fight gets my vote, but it was a four rounder. Judges may favour bouts of more significance.
Broughton (left) and Melvin at the conclusion of their title clash
On the same night, at the same venue as Tollerton and Williams, Scott Melvin and Mykey Lee-Broughton staged a Midlands lightweight title classic that had everything.
They fought non-stop, with Broughton only needing to survive the last to become champ. He didn’t. After being nailed by body shots, Mykey was violently ill and the contest stopped.
Also on the shortlist is Ryan Kelly’s pulsating October points win over River Wilson-Bent for the Commonwealth silver middleweight belt.
Both men were rocked to their bootlaces, both gashed before Kelly had his hand raised.
My report chronicled the see-saw action: “Just when it seemed Ryan had solved the puzzle before him a right hand crashed against his chin in the seventh. He froze momentarily and Wilson-Bent, blood pumping from an ugly gash, hurled himself forward, raining punches against a man pinned against the ropes.
“Ryan survived the crisis and produced his most dominant work in the following session. A right of his own dumped River on the canvas. He was up at three and walked unsteadily to a neutral corner for referee Reece Carter’s standing count.”
And don’t discount the no-holds-barred Midlands title rematch between Kirk Stevens and Jamie Stewart, another blistering affair that went to the wire.
The best male fighter of the year is a real toughie.
Last year’s winner Liam Davies had a fantastic 12 months, with a one round blast-out of Jason Cunningham and European title victory over Vincenzo La Femina.
Tyler Denny celebrates after his European title victory
But he’s up against Tyler Denny who notched-up three outstanding victories. First unbeaten and highly regarded Brad Pauls was put to the sword, Macaulay McGowan was beaten on a split, then Tyler took the European middleweight title by halting Matteo Signani.
Supremely talented Harry Scarff, from Derby, won twice and took the British, Commonwealth and IBF European welterweight titles by outpointing Ekow Essuman.
The smart money may, however, is on Stoke’s Nathan Heaney – simply for the sheer scale of his British title points victory over Denzel Bentley. Most felt he’d be stopped, but Nathan bit on his gumshield to grab the year’s biggest upset.
Kirsty Hill with her Commonwealth title belt
Three woman are in the female fighter of the year category: Emma Dolan, Kirtsy Hill and Beccy Ferguson. Grimsby’s Hill, who enjoyed a busy 2023 with five outings, may get the gong for her magnificent display of boxing against Vicky Wilkinson for the Commonwealth junior-lightweight title.
Other categories
Male prospect of the year
Gully Power, Tyler Rivers, Niall Farrell, Sean Bruce, Ibraheem Suilamaan, Dylan Norman.
Female fight of the year
Emma Dolan v Nicola Hopewell, Kirsty Hill v Vicky Wilkinson, Beccy Ferguson v Lianne Bush.
Female prospect of the year
Sian O’ Toole, Paige Goodyear, Tori Ellis-Willetts.
*The evening will be covered, with pictures, in the Birmingham Mail, Coventry Telegraph and Sunday Mercury.