Quartermaine wins, Taylor is off to a flyer
Danny Quartermaine…much-needed points win on Friday night
DANNY Quartermaine is back to winning ways, writes IAN WAGSTAFF.
On Scott Murray’s Friday night show at Sports Connexion, Coventry, the former IBF and WBO European super-feather champ regained momentum with a shut-out six rounds decision. Referee Kevin Parker scored his bout with Argentina’s Fernando Joaquin Valdez 60-54.
The win was needed. Last time out, in March, the 29-year-old could only draw with Kurt Jackson. Before that, he was soundly outpointed by Royston Barney Smith – a loss that cost Danny his belts.
The taller, leaner Quartermaine, fighting at super-light, used his height and reach to keep the crouching Valdez at the end of his jab. Both landed left hooks during an early exchange before Quartermaine began finding the body with increasing regularity.
Quartermaine caught Valdez with a fast check left hook in the second, then landed a right hook and uppercut at close range. The Leamington-Spa fighter was beginning to bully his opponent but remained disciplined behind a fast, spearing jab.
His pedigree became increasingly apparent in the third. Quartermaine led with single straight rights and drew Valdez forward before countering off the back foot, sharply intercepting any advances with left hooks to the head and body.
By the fourth, Quartermaine was hooking effectively off the jab. Valdez, now cut above his left eye, complained to referee Kevin Parker about the use of the head, but his protest was waved away.
It was a measured performance from “The Hurricane” in which he controlled both the range and pace of the contest.
Quartermaine has lost only one of 17, Valdez has won only one of 32.
New pro Taylor celebrates with former champ River Wilson Bent
Hinckley’s Joe Taylor – prison officer by day - made a successful professional debut, decisioning the experienced Michael Mooney 40–36. Super-feather Taylor received a deafening reception from a legion of travelling fans when he made his way through the crowd, and controlled the contest mainly from the centre of the ring.
That was Worcester warrior Mooney’s 146th contest.
On social media, Taylor posted: “The journey begins. Professional debut complete with a clean sweep points victory. Mature, disciplined performance and went through the gears throughout the fight accordingly, just as we like to do. Looking forward to be able to move to the longer distance fights in the future where we can drag people into deep waters where we like to swim.”