Pitters eases to win - now he’s after titles

Shakan Pitters….whitewash points victory. Picture courtesy GBM Sports

GOOD to have former British champ Shakan Pitters back in action after nearly a year away from the ring.

Before his Chase Leisure Centre clash with Robbie Chapman, trainer Paul “Soggy” Counihan said a win was everything – a win would open the door to more title fights. Pitters achieved that at a canter.

Frankly, the Birmingham light-heavy seldom slipped out of second gear. He didn’t need to. Saturday night’s bout in Cannock was a cruise through untroubled waters.

The contest underlined the problems promoter Scott Murray faced in piecing together the show: a promoter’s lot is, at times, not a happy one.

To my knowledge, 36-year-old Pitters was hit with three changes in opponent, the scheduled six rounder was cut to four, the 10 fight bill reduced to six.

I applaud Scott for persevering when it would’ve been easy to pull the plug. He was rewarded with a memorable main event – Eales v O’Sullivan - which must be in the mix for Midlands fight of the year.

Pitters (12st 12lbs) is a class act and the gulf in class was evident against Chapman, a Camden campaigner with nearly 100 contests under his belt.

This was a runout for Shakan who, at 6ft 6ins, was literally head and shoulders taller than his opponent. There were times, I felt, he could’ve pulled the trigger, but didn’t, content to bag rounds. The whitewash 40-36 score in his favour was a formality.

Pitters prowled, fired jabs and planted long lefts to Chapman’s body. There were moments when he smiled at his fleet-footed foe.

Chapman (12st 6lbs) was on his bike in the third, using every inch of the ring, but still copped a hard shot downstairs at the bell.

Pitters banged in a right in the final minutes, then got back to that elegant lead.

The contest was in stark contrast to Shakan’s lost outing – a televised, narrow points loss for the European belt. Hopefully, he will be returning to those dizzy heights pretty soon.

Pitters still has the ability to make his mark. He summed it up on social media: It was good to get the arms moving (again) and get the win. On to the next and bigger fights ahead and more titles incoming.

Dean Doe with Spencer McCracken Snr. No rush for title fights

DEAN Doe Jnr, who fights out of McCrackens’ Birmingham gym, is now 4-0 after outpointing Dan Booth.

The Stourport welter looked sharp in taking a shut-out 40-36 four round decision at Chase Leisure Centre on Saturday.

Trainer Spencer McCracken will be pleased with the discipline 20-year-old Doe showed against a Manchester journeyman (11st 2lbs) who fights with aggression when given the openings. Doe (10st 5lbs) never presented those openings. He remained focused, landed sharp combinations, then re-set.

“There’s no rush for titles,” Dean, from travellers’ stock, told me afterwards. “I’m still young.”

Doe was particularly successful with looping rights to the body. He felt a left hook in the second, but immediately hit back. By the third, fast one-two were piercing Booth’s guard and Dean worked the midriff in the last.