Welshman Roberts made to dig deep

Jack Wyn Roberts tries to keep it long. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

THEY shuffled the running order of Friday’s show at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, to accommodate Jack Wyn Robert’s coachload of supporters whose long journey from North Wales had been delayed.

It was the correct decision by promoters BCB. The townsfolk from Abergele would’ve otherwise missed out on a thoroughly entertaining battle between their boxing hope and rugged Harry Matthews.

After a tough four rounder, tall light-heavyweight Roberts, now residing in the Staffordshire village of Rocester, notched-up his second paid victory. The Welshman was made to work for his win.

Yorkshireman Matthews took issue with referee Ryan Churchill’s 39-37 tally, believing the 120th contest of his long career should’ve ended in victory.

I felt the right man had his hand raised, although Matthews made Roberts dig very deep. The 28-year-old was caught by too many right hands.

“It was the perfect learning fight, that’s what it was,” Roberts said. “You can’t learn to swim without getting wet.

“I’d give myself six or seven out of 10, I neglected the jab. I thought I caught him in the first, but then he found a few openings. With those 10oz gloves, you do need reminding sometimes.”

The round Mr Churchill gave Matthews (12st 12lbs) was probably the third when he clattered Roberts (13st) with right hands and left hooks. They found the target with alarming regularity.

Roberts began the contest with the right idea – keeping it long and firing out jabs. He stuck to the script in the second then got sucked into a dog-fight.

Roberts re-grouped down the stretch, although right hands still found the target.

Mistakes were made, as is to expected from a novice pro. But we did learn something about the newcomer – he possesses old fashioned bottle.