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1 October 2011

Boxnation debut hailed a success as Walsh and Appley serve up tasty battle

Frank Warren Promotions
frankwarren.tv
Liam Walsh and Paul Appleby served up a classic at London’s York Hall last night that saw Walsh keep hold of his Commonwealth Super-Featherweight title in a thrilling battle.
The show was the debut promotion for Frank Warren's sons Francis and George under their Queensberry banner, and they couldn't have hoped for a more explosive launch - which was also the first ever show on the new dedicated fight channel BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456).
In front of a vocal sell-out crowd and searing heat, Cromer star Walsh and the tough South Queensferry man battled over ten brutal rounds.
The fight was right up there with the very best seen at the legendary venue that has seen the likes of Nigel Benn in his heyday and it was the sort of fight the Dark Destroyer would have loved.
Appleby, 24, who was pulled out by his corner before the start of the eleventh round was far from devastated and even wants a rematch.
“Liam is a real warrior and he came to fight tonight,” said Appleby. “That was the hardest fight I’ve been in, full credit to him he really put everything on the line tonight and so did I. I don’t know how he came back from that seventh round when I dropped him, he was unbelievable. But I want the chance to do it again and I’ll give him a rematch anytime. The fans loved it so why not do it again? I’ve got plenty more to give and I believe that I can still be a champion.”
25-year-old Walsh, who made the third defence of his title and took his unbeaten record to twelve fights, said that the Scotsman was the toughest he had ever faced.
He said, “All I can say is that Paul was brilliant, he is a true warrior. He brought the warrior out in me tonight and I showed that when I’m hurt, I come back even stronger. I’m going to have a good rest and then look to see what is out there, but a rematch with Paul would be a thriller.”
From the first bell, both men were landing shots with Walsh showing the more impressive boxing jabbing to head and body.
Ricky Burns, Appleby’s stablemate, was roaring him on from ringside and in the second he had more success with the right hand and a cut opened under the right eye of Walsh from an Appleby left.
There was more of the same in the fourth and fifth, but in the sixth Appleby shook Walsh with a tremendous left hook that saw Walsh fire back immediately with a left to rock Appleby. Appleby finished the round strong with some good body shots to hurt the champion.
Then in the seventh, a big right hand from Appleby dropped Walsh to silence the Cromer fighters fans’, Walsh was up at eight but was stunned.
A stunning eighth had the crowd on their feet that saw both men trading big shots in the centre of the ring and Walsh ending strong with a barrage of punches.
In the ninth, with both men tired, Walsh plied on the pressure driving Appleby back in the corner. Appleby was hurt from the body shots and a good left body shot and right hand over the top ended the round.
Finally in the tenth, former British champion Appleby was hurt in the corner, but somehow he managed to drive Walsh back into a corner landing more body punches. Then a rib-bending body shot dropped dropped Appleby, who was up at the count of eight and went back to his corner.
Appleby’s trainer Billy Nelson had seen enough and told the referee that the fight was over and he didn’t come out for the eleventh round.
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