Fanthome’s too busy, too fast for the Fonz

All smiles after scoring double…Leo Fanthome and Ashlee Eales

LEO Fanthome capped a very good night for Lee Spare’s gym at Chase Leisure Centre with comprehensive victory over veteran Fonz Alexander.

That’s the welterweight’s third win after suffering defeat to Ryan Frost last September – his second loss in nine. Leo is again moving in the right direction, though the trainer still has work to do.

Fanthome (10st 10lbs) hit sharply and was too busy for a 38-year-old closing in on his 200th contest. At times I felt Leo was a bit too tentative and perhaps confidence levels still need to rise.

But you cannot argue with a 40-36 win. Fanthome, aged 27, controlled the action.

And Nuneaton’s Boxing Clever Academy, where he and Eales trains, was full of praise. It posted: “(It) was supposed to be over six rounds but was changed on the night. Leo boxed brilliantly against a game opponent who was winging hooks in whenever he could, so Leo had to stay switched on.

“He was composed, took his time and controlled his opponent with his work rate and control of the ring space.”

Heavily tattooed Alexander (10st 10lbs), from Newark, still has the savvy and strength to pose apprentice boxers problems, but, after a 12 year career, he’s slowed considerably. Against Leo, Fonz pinned his hopes on left hook counters. One clattered home in the second: Leo took it well and fired straight back.

Apart from that, Alexander only threatened with the shot. Fanthome worked the body well, jabbed with authority and bossed exchanges. I thought Leo, from Redditch, could’ve pressed home his advantage more in the third. It was still a session in the bag.

He really opened-up in the last, landing a fine left hook and letting both hands go. Alexander smiled under the storm of leather.