Boxill goes to war in a last round thriller

Remi Boxill celebrates with his team. Picture: Gianni Basi

REMI Boxill – the light-middle with movie star looks – didn’t have things all his own way on Saturday night.

His was not the one-paced, punch-picking debut enjoyed by the majority of home corner newcomers.

On manager Anthony Manning’s show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, Remi had to endure a torrid final round before claiming points victory.

But then, Connor Meanwell’s patchy record is deceptive. The Newark, Nottinghamshire, boxer comes to slug it out and represents a hard night for any apprentice pro.

I have a lot of time for the man. He is “Pitbull” by ring name, pitbull by nature.

With blood seeping from a gash on his forehead, Meanwell staged a grandstand finish. He dragged Birmingham’s Boxill into his kind of close range battle and landed flush right hands as both let the punches go.

Boxill beat a hasty retreat as one particularly meaty shot found its mark. That fourth round rally earned Meanwell the session on referee Chris Dean’s 39-37 card, although there was no doubt Boxill was a clear winner.

And the 22-year-old boxed neatly before the opting to punch it out down the stretch.

Much the taller, Boxill (10st 13lbs) showed a slide rule jab and nice head movement. Meanwell stumbled after taking a right in the second and also shipped a good right to the body.

Things really warmed-up in the third when heads collided. Meanwell (11st 4lbs) lurched from the accidental blow and, with blood streaming from a gash high on his forehead, had to take right hooks. He was under pressure, the injury spurring Boxill into taking more chances, but a “time out” for the wound to be inspected bought the visitor precious seconds.

Then came the drama of the last, with Boxill seemingly relishing the tear-up.

He may have lost a single round, but Remi featured in the best fight of the night.