Liam shows promise in disciplined debut

Carey has Thomas covering up. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

FRANKIE Gavin protégé Liam Carey can look back on Friday’s pro debut with a good deal of satisfaction.

On BCB’s show at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, Carey dominated Luke Thomas over four rounds, taking a landslide 40-36 on referee Peter McCormack’s card.

The Worcester 24-year-old, an electrician by day, didn’t fizzle or crackle with electricity, but showed intelligence and eased smoothly into the paid game.

Former world amateur champ Gavin, also making his debut – as main man in a professional corner - has schooled the former white collar fighter well. He’s built a strong foundation at the Hall Green, Birmingham, gym.

Carey was measured, disciplined and moved up a gear with each round. As Gavin put it: “He won every second of every round – you can’t ask for more than that.” He also looked in tip-top shape.

It was a performance that suggested Carey has a lot more in the tank.

“I felt I could do another two or three rounds,” the light-middleweight said afterwards. “And there were no nerves until the ring walk, then they hit my like a brick wall.”

Gavin said: “As a first fight it was very good. There are things to work on – he could’ve picked his shots a bit better, but you can’t complain about a 40-36 debut.”

Carey, wearing Birmingham City colours, dictated matters behind a solid jab, while Thomas, who lost for the fourth time in five outings, threatened with left hooks.

The 32-year-old from Partington, Manchester, did connect with an uppercut in the second, but Carey (11st 1lbs) was now fighting with more aggression, letting right hands go and unleashing body shots.

That fine left jab was connecting in doubles by the third and Liam, his confidence growing, uncorked an eye catching left hook to the body, left hook to the head.

My notes for the fourth state: “Carey has increased the pressure with each round.” He felt out the opposition at the start and showed real fire in the last. Thomas (11st 2lbs), to his credit, kept plugging away while Carey kept the right hands coming. He landed in a very nice right hook in the closing minutes.

Liam came through without blood or bruises, he bossed the action - that’s what a first fight is all about. The man who calls himself Sparky will look to up the voltage as his journey continues.