BOXING: Conway set for rapid return after claiming impressive victory in Bedworth bout

Northampton middleweight Kieron Conway faces a quick return to the ring after dazzling on his professional debut in Bedworth.
Kieron ConwayKieron Conway
Kieron Conway

The 20-year-old was added to the show in Corby on Friday, March 17 after dominating Sonny Whiting over four rounds.

Whiting was a tough choice of opponent.

The 28-year-old from Rochester is a tough, seasoned pro who has derailed prospects in the past – and even Conway’s coach and father James said the fight was ‘a potential banana skin’.

Yusuf IbrahimYusuf Ibrahim
Yusuf Ibrahim
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But Whiting was relieved to hear the final bell after Conway set about him with body shots and combinations.

Conway was known as a good, all-round boxer during his successful amateur career with Kings Heath ABC, but against Whiting, he showed more aggression and within seconds of the opening bell, body punches had the Kent fighter gasping for air.

Conway had Whiting in trouble again in the second and with around 100 supporters cheering him on, he went for the finish.

Whiting used all his know how to smother his way through the crisis and the referee told him off in the third after Conway had him grabbing again with hard, quality shots from both hands.

Yusuf IbrahimYusuf Ibrahim
Yusuf Ibrahim
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The last round followed a similar pattern and at the final bell, Whiting apologised to Conway for holding, explaining: “It was the only way I could get to the final bell.”

James Conway is his son’s harshest critic and even he was pleased with the performance, saying: “It was a potential banana skin, but Kieron was dominant from start to finish.

“No performance is flawless and Kieron is always looking to improve, but as debuts go, it was more than what most people outside the team expected.

“Sonny is a good benchmark and for a debutant to shut him out is almost unheard of.”

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Conway, who thanked sponsors M Wilson Plumbing, Project Warrior, Clues Clothing, Croyland Car Megastore, Rapid Tan and Lynn Patching of the Windmill pub for organising the supporters’ coach, will be back in the ring at a venue that has good memories for him.

The show in Corby is at the Best Western Hotel, where Conway has a perfect record.

He’s boxed there twice before as an amateur – and won twice.

Last March, he took on Ellis Blake for the Central England belt and won a terrific toe-to-toe scrap that had the crowd on its feet.

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The show in Corby also features Northampton middleweight Drew Brown and Kettering fighters Domenico Speccio and Daniel Spencer.

Tickets are available from 07919 344305.

Mason Fury was a winner on his ring debut in Walsall.

The 10-year-old from Far Cotton ABC is a relation of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury – and made a promising start by outpointing William Arnold (Wednesbury).

The judges were unanimous, and coach John Daly said: “Mason was told what he had to do – and boxed his ears off.

“Mason has been training with us for three years and was more than ready.”

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NORTHAMPTON ABC ace Yusuf Ibrahim claimed an east midlands title at 53kg last weekend.

In only his fifth bout, Ibrahim showcased his skills as he saw off K Corseen of Sileby ABC.

The Kingsthorpe school pupil remains unbeaten after scoring a points victory against an opponent who had been involved in 29 previous bouts.

Ibrahim now goes on to box in Lincolnshire this weekend.

He faces C Stevenson of Corby.

On last weekend’s support card, Ibrahim’s younger brother, Yayha Abdulla (39kg), earned a points victory against John Tom Dowd of Earl Shilton.