Wilson-Bent warms up for bigger things

River Wilson-Bent celebrates Saturday’s one-sided victory

DEFEATS – particularly narrow defeats – have given River Wilson-Bent the guile and toughness to make it to the top at domestic level.

The tall Coventry middle has benefited from mixing it against tough opposition: romping to victory against a journeyman can leave bad habits. Being beaten by a contender adds to a boxer’s ring IQ.

And, remember, River has only lost to Tyler Denny, former world class amateur Austin Williams and devastating puncher Hamzah Sheeraz.

The tweaks and adjustments made were in evidence during the 29-year-old’s six round points victory over tough Slovakian Pavol Garaj on Tommy Owen’s Saturday night show at Planet Ice, Solihull.

It was very much a six round sharpener for River who encountered very calm waters – excuse the pun – before taking every round, 60-54.

Garaj, a veteran of 52 fights (seven wins, four draws) is tough and durable with only one inside distance loss, but he lacked the speed and variety to trouble the Sky Blue contender.

Wilson-Bent didn’t get involved and impressively turned up the heat with each round. Because he could dictate at his own pace, the fight never caught fire. Some rounds appeared little more than a sparring session.

Garaj did not land with a heavy shot and ended the one-sided encounter with a bloody nose. River stalked behind the jab, slung long rights and forced the East European to the ropes.

My notes for the third state, “Wilson-Bent totally dominant” and by the fourth he was opening up with both hands.

The outgunned visitor copped a big right on the bell to end the fifth and took himself to the ropes in the last where he slipped and punished.

Wilson-Bent kept the ring rust at bay and now, with tools sharpened, can look forward to much bigger things. A third English title fight may be round the corner for the fighter, who has lost only three of 19 (one draw).