Simmons Impresses On Burns-Beltran Undercard

By Bobby Hunter for Ringnews24


Main support to the Burns-Beltran event was an exciting clash of top Cruiserweight prospects from the UK and Germany. Edinburgh's Stephen Simmons took on unbeaten German David Graf over ten rounds for the vacant WBC International Silver Crusierweight title. Its not often you see two prospects facing each other this early in their career although beforehand fans on twitter and on the main boxing forums agreed that they were pleasantly surprised that both fighters were ready to risk their unbeaten records against each other.

Simmons entered to RunRig's "Loch Lomand" which got the crowd roaring before the fight. Graf looked massive although he was outweighed by Simmons by three pounds. The German started the fight well, he was quicker getting his shots off as Simmons bored in. Graf Knocked Simmons head back a few times in the opener with over hand rights. Simmons though kept coming forward. Simmons won the second and third by bringing his over hand right into play. The jab was also an important weapon as it stopped Graf from setting himself for his own punches.

Round four saw a breakthrough from Simmons as a hard straight right hand floored the German after a good exchange a few seconds earlier. Graf was hurt and had to cover up for the rest of the round. Another huge right hand rocked Graf at the bell. Big Round for "The Monster".

Graf to his credit came back in round five where after two straight right hands and another exciting exchange of hooks Simmons came away with a cut left eye. It looked quite bad too. Simmons responded in the sixth by upping the pace. Graf was fading at this point as Simmons was landing the one-two combination at will. Graf again came back in the seventh, Simmons had slowed a little due to the last round effort. Graf again was getting his punches of first. It was enough to keep Simmons at bay. Round Eight i scored even as both guys were tired and holding a lot when in close. Both guys had success with the straight right but no fighter was dominant enough to merit winning the round.

The Edinburgh fighter began to show his superior fitness in the ninth as he started with a well placed jab, jab, straight combination that bounced off Graf,s head. Simmons then followed by bulling Graf to the ropes hurting him with left hook to the body. Graf couldn't escape as Simmons aimed hooks to body and head.
The Simmons pressure continued early in the tenth as Straight rights and bod shots reigned in on Graf. The German was in survival mode now as Simmons continually blocked Graf on the ropes. When the bell rang there could only be one winner. The judges agreed by awarding Simmons a unanimous decision 99-91, 98-92, 97-92. Simmons improves to 9-0.


Scotland gained another WBC International Silver champion as Glasgow's  Jon Slowey saw off Spain's Angel Lorente over 10 Rounds. Slowey who won the British Masters title at he start of year dominated just about every round with his southpaw stance and a more aggressive style.

Slowey knocked  Lorente down in the 1st although it looked more of a push. Referee Ian John Lewis gave Lorente the eight count before letting the Spaniard continue. Slowey fought aggressively timing his straight left to perfection early followed by some decent lead right hooks. Lorente is a counter puncher but Slowey was throwing far too much leather for his style to have any impact on the fight.

The Spaniard best round was the eighth where he started out with three straight rights that caught Slowey coming in but by the end of the round Slowey was landing his lead hooks again forcing Lorente to the back foot. Slowey easily won the tenth which cemented a dominant performance and a much better showing this time around from the hard fight he received from Belfast's Eddie Nesbitt back in May. Judges cards were 97-93, 99-90 and 98-91. Slowey improves to 15-0.


Scott Cardle got a very useful workout from Fishburn's Gary Fox over 8 x 3 at Lightweight. Cardle from Lythan St Annes brought a noisy support as he started the fight moving around Fox who fought with a high guard and punched in spurts. Fox had brought a noisy sport too cheering when Fox got close letting his punches go. The first two rounds were close with Cardle probably landing the cleaner shots from distance.

Fox attacked more in the third but Cardle boxed cute catching the on rushing Fox with well timed left hooks. A huge left hook in the fourth this time from Fox Sent Cardle off balance, Fox rushed in landing his quick flurries again. A good round for Fox. The counter punching was again working for Cardle in rounds five and six. With his hands at his waist style, Cardle drew Fox too him spinning away after catching Fox with counter hooks and right hands. Cardle saw out the fight in rounds seven and eight by dominating with his jab, Fox was fading at this point as Cardle's class was beginning to show. Cardle ran out a 79-73 winner on Referee Kenny Pringles card. Cardle improves to 12-0.


Callum Smith of Liverpool kept up his record of winning every fight in 2013 by first round KO by stopping Lithuanian import Kirill Psonko with brutal body shots. This fight was at super-middleweight over  6 x 3s but mid way through the round a huge combination of body shots by Smith floored Psonko. Referee Victor Loughlin gave the Lithuanian every chance but it over seconds later as another left hook to the body ended the fight at 2.30 of the round. Psonko is usually durable so it was a decent win for Smith who now needs sterner tests. Smith improves to 7-0 5KO's.

Paul Appleby the former British Feather weight champion made a welcome return with a hard fought decision win over tough Chesterfield man Lee Connell. This was Appleby's first fight since the War with fellow Scot John Simpson last June at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow where he was stopped in six rounds. Appleby edged the first here against Connelly although he ended the round with a bloody nose. In rounds two and three Connolly was still game but the better placed punches were coming from the ex champion especially to the body, a favourite punch of Appleby. Round four i gave to Connolly as it was toe to toe punch for punch. I felt that Connolly's defence was better in this round as both guys took turns of firing hurtful looking hooks at each other on the ropes.
 Appleby took a step back in the fifth and began to use his boxing skills, a nice jab, straight right combination early in the round being his best punches. By the sixth round Appleby was well in charge as he drove Connolly back with right hooks to the body followed by hooks to the head. Connolly fought back though and landed a big right hand that stopped Appleby in his tracks. It was too late to impact the fight and Appleby ran out a 59-56 winner on Referee Kenny Pringle's card. Appleby is now 19-4 11 Ko's.


Opening the Glasgow show was Prizefighter champion Chris Jenkins of Garnot, Wales who upped his record to 11-0 5ko's by being pushed hard by Frenchman Laurent Ferra over 6x3s at Light welterweight. I had Jenkins winning every round but Ferra was a tough guy who took everything Jenkins threw at him and still kept coming forward. In the second Jenkins got a cut over his eye form a head clash so for the next few rounds he boxed nicely hurting the Frenchman to the body on more than one occasion. Again Ferra fought through the pain to chase Jenkins about. Referee Victor Loughlin could have stopped the fight in the fifth or sixth as Ferra's face was a mask of blood. The tough strong Frenchman deserved to continue to the final bell although was given only a share of a round by Loughlin as he scored the fight 60-55 for Jenkins.


Michael Roberts and David Brophy had to wait until after the Burns-Beltran fight to showcase their talents and have their fights cut to four rounds but both gave commanding performances against Eddie Nesbitt and Jason ball. Roberts easily out boxed aggressive Nesbitt from the outside in what was a very good performance considering how close Nesbitt of Belfast ran Jon Slowey close in May. Roberts ran out a 39-37 points winner on Kenny Pringles card in a fight at Super-Featherweight.

  Brophy of Caldercruix used an improving jab and right hand to stave off the attention of journeyman Jason Ball at Middleweight. Brophy again looked better than his May outing by moving better and starting faster. Referee Kenny Pringle scored this a shut out for Brophy 40-36.