Boxing: Brooks cut-up as gash denies him a title

Mar 31 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

A HORRIBLE gash over the right eye dashed Wayne Brooks’ hopes of becoming Welsh light-heavyweight champion yesterday at the Afan Lido, writes Gareth Jones.

The 21-year-old Ely fighter had already recovered from a thunderous left hook by Llanelli’s Shon Davies which floored him in the opening session and looked set for victory when a clash of heads brought blood pouring from his eyebrow in the seventh.

Referee Wynford Jones allowed the bout to continue for a minute or so, with Davies throwing everything in a bid to end it, but it was obvious that the wound was too deep to allow Brooks to continue and a surprised Shon found himself crowned as the new king. Yet he came close to defeat himself.

“His ribs had gone. They were going to pull him out at the end of the round,” said a disappointed Wayne, before going to hospital for treatment to his injury.

Davies admitted that he had been close to giving up, only the persuasion of manager Hywel Davies keeping him battling on. It was an unsatisfactory outcome to a cracking contest and a rematch is a must.

Another bout that could well go on again was that between Pentwyn’s David Gentles and Aberystwyth’s gangling Jamie Ambler. The 32-year-old Cardiffian emerged from the six-rounder with a 59-56 verdict and a faceful of bruises after a little war that twice boiled over after the bell.

Merthyr’s Welsh super-feather king, Dai Davies, took the full count lying face down after being felled in the fifth round of a non-title clash with unbeaten Swansea southpaw Ricky Owen, who has now won all nine as a pro.

Bargoed southpaw Gary Cooper had no answer to the hooks of Dolgellau debutant Brock Cato, their fight being halted in the North Walian’s favour in the second.

Swansea teenager James Lilley outscored Welshpool’s Russell Pearce over six rounds, but his 19-year-old stablemate, Craig Dyer, took a second-round count on the way to a four-round points loss to Bristolian Dan Stwart.