Burns - Gonzalez Full Under card Report

By Bobby Hunter Reporting For Ringnews24


Heading the six fight under card at the new Emirates Arena was the popular and well supported John Simpson of Greenock who was fighting the Mongolian warrior Choi for the vacant WBC Silver International Title. Beforehand many pundits and fans thought this would be the fight of the night. They were right. Both guys are warriors and for twelve rounds took turns of battering away on each other before Simpson was awarded the decision.

Simpson (9st 3lbs) edged the first as his speed of punch and foot was a little too much for the forty one year old Choi. The Mongolian warrior did have his moments though especially with the overhand right as he chased Simpson around the ring. The second was and even better round with Choi (9st 1lb 8oz) scoring with a right hand that drove Simpson to the ropes, the Greenock man responded with his very own right hook before both guys exchanged furiously for twenty seconds. The expected war had broken out. Round 3 was similar, it was give and take. Choi was having success with body shots now, Simpson would wince as the ripping hooks from Choi battered into his side. Simpson then got on his bike and started to box his older and slightly slower opponent using his jab as the main weapon keeping Choi at bay.

The aggressive Choi took the fourth on my card as he bullied Simpson to the ropes landing left and right hooks. Simpson was then sporting a bloody nose no doubt caused by the pressure he was being put under from the old man. The action continued in the fifth , sixth and seventh rounds, Choi would go after Simpson, trap him on the ropes, whack away then Simpson would respond by spinning away landing his jab and straight right knocking Choi's head back. The best punch of these rounds were in the sixth when both guys were in close Simpson planted a right uppercut that sent sweat spraying for the Mongolians head.

Choi on my card won the eighth and the tenth rounds as his pressure began to pay off. One overhand right in the eighth forced Simpson to the ropes when he then had to cover up from huge looking body shots. Choi was in command here but Simpson fought back in the ninth using that jab to set up his straight rights. Everything was coming off the jab now for Simpson, the left hook to body and head was now coming off for Simpson as the fight took another turn. As the final round approached the fight was close. Both guys had given their all and that showed in the last as for the first ninety seconds it was a slow affair with Simpson getting the better of thee exchanges due to his jab and extra speed. Choi again came back hurting Simpson with a right uppercut late in round. It was a better last minute for the forty one year old man.

My card read 116-113 Simpson at the end with the judges agreeing with my score although the 117-112 score from Steve Gray seemed a bit unfair on Choi. Scores were 116-113, 116-112 and 117-112 to the New WBC International Silver Champion John Simpson. Victor Loughlin officiated.



Stephen Simmons is the Edinburgh Cruiserweight collected his first title as a professional as he forced Irishman Michael Sweeney retire on his stool at the end of third round therefore collecting the vacant Celtic Title. Simmons (14st 1lb 1/2 oz) in his most impressive showing of his career started the first at a high pace looking for those trademark hooks to the body which stopped his last opponent at the Gorbals Centre back in February. Very late in round one a big left hook planted Sweeney (14st 3lbs 1/2 oz) on his back side. Sweeney to his credit got up but the bell basically saved him from taking any more punishment. The second saw Simmons continue the pace as he pushed Sweeney around the ring landing the straight right after some good work with his jab. Sweeney landed a decent right hand mid way through the round, definitely his best punch of the fight. Simmons though continued to work over Sweeney whacking him to the body. The third was all Simmons as he stunned his Irish opponent with the right hand before digging in those body shots. Simmons had looked very compact and composed and it was no surprise that Sweeney pulled himself out after the third round as it was just a matter of time before the Simmons landed the knock out punch. Steve Gray of Fleetwood was the Ref.


To the chants of  "Rocky, Rocky" Liverpool's Rocky Fielding made Short work of his Polish import Michael Nieroda (12 st 3lbs 8 oz) by stopping him with body shots after only fifty nine seconds of the first round, Fielding (12st 5lbs 10 oz) went after his opponent from the first bell  targeting the body with vicious looking hooks. Nieroda who had went three rounds with WBO 168lb champion earlier in the year crumbled under the pressure Fielding was putting on him under and a huge left hook after a barrage put Nieroda down for the Eight count. The man from Poland was in immense pain and Referee Victor Loughlin correctly waved the fight off as Nieroda was in no condition to continue.


David Brophy the Caldercruix middleweight upped his pro record to 7-0-1 with a hard fought points win over game Gary Boulden (11st 6lb 2oz) of Surrey. Boulden started the fight much better than Brophy using a high work rate and a good left jab to keep the unbeaten prospect away from him. I gave Boulden the first two rounds, the upset looked on. To his credit Brophy (11st 9lbs 1/2 oz) came back into the fight in the third and fourth by matching Bouldens work rate and by landing some very nice jab, straight right, left hook to the body combinations. The pattern continued in the fifth with Brophy planting his feet more as the body shots rained in on Bouden. The sixth was a crowd pleasing round as Boulden still tried to work away but Brophy was cleaner. A jab straight right set up another left hook to the body although this time Boulden came back and landed his own body shot. Referee Kenny Pringle scored this fight 58-57 Brophy. Certainly a fair score and a good test for Brophy.


Barlornock's Michael Roberts got all he could handle from Poland's Mariusz Bak as he won a close points decision on Referee Dougie Campbell's card 58-57. Bak (9st 5lb 10oz) started the better as he was able to confuse Roberts with his crouching style. Roberts (9st 7lbs) sporting tartan trunks came back in to the fight in the next few rounds using his superior movement. Roberts was also picking his punches better especially the jab , straight right. In the fifth Bak was still landing that right hand, the visitor won the round on my card as Roberts seemed more interested in trying to switch hit and play to the fans. The Barlornock man got down to business in the sixth as the left hook coming of the jab began to land more frequently followed by Roberts moving to the body. A close fight where Robert probably just done enough but will need to improve his performances if he is to go any further. Roberts moves to 12-0.


Opening the show at the Emirates arena was Glasgow's Jon Slowey (9st 3lbs 6oz) fighting for the third time this year out pointing tough Belfast man Eddie Nesbitt over six rounds at Featherweight. Slowey was the better man in the first as his jab was giving Nesbitt (9st 4lbs ) problems.. Nesbitt took the seconds as he scored with the jab straight right a few times. Nesbitt was also landing cleaner when up close. In the third Slowey scored a flash knockdown when Nesbitt touched down. It was hard to see what cause the knockdown as both were in the middle of an exchange before Nesbitt touched the canvas with his glove. The Belfast man had his best round in the fourth as he couldn't miss the straight right hand. The fifth was scrappy and a close one but Slowey working from the out side after a rough fourth won it for me by controlling the distance and using that jab. Nesbitt took the sixth on my card as Slowey looked tired, it was Sloweys jab vs the harder punches from Nesbitt. At the end my card read 57-56 Slowey with the knockdown being the difference. Referee Dougie Campbell scored 58-56 Slowey.