Now for British title, says Appleby after latest win

Published on Saturday 1 March 2008 10:19

EXPLOSIVE left hooks and slashing left jabs gave South Queensferry's British featherweight title contender Paul Appleby an impressive third-round stoppage win over last-minute Hungarian substitute Ferenc Szabo in Glasgow last night.

Watched closely from ringside by Greenock's reigning British featherweight champion John Simpson at ringside, Appleby sent the always aggressive Szabo to the canvas in the first round for an eight count with a trademark rib-bending left hook.

But, as Appleby rushed in for the kill, the tough Magyar staggered him with two jarring head shots.

But, unfortunately for Szabo, Appleby demonstrated that he has another new weapon in his armoury – a slashing left jab that opened a cut on the Hungarian's left cheek and bloodied his nose.

In the second round of the Kelvin Hall contest, Appleby's jabs opened another gash above Szabo's left eyebrow and a huge right to the pit of the Hungarian's stomach dumped him on his knees for another count of eight from Fauldhouse referee Paul Graham.

Yet, remarkably, at the start of the third round, it was Appleby who was shaken up by two short rights to his chin.

But he recovered to drop the Hungarian yet again with a retaliatory crushing left hook to the body.

Gamely rising, Szabo found an eager Appleby, with the scent of victory in his nostrils, waiting to finish him off with a pile-driving left hook to the ribs.

The stoppage, in two minutes and 59 seconds of the third round, gave Appleby his eighth win inside the distance in eleven bouts.

Afterwards, Appleby said: "Szabo was a tough guy. He kept bobbing up after each knockdown and he was also strong but now I want John Simpson's British title and Lonsdale belt."

Simpson's coach Danny Lee, who studied Appleby's win from ringside, said: "We already knew that Appleby is a strong boy who can punch but John and I spotted defensive flaws which we are confident that we can exploit when they fight for John's title.''

And champion Simpson added: "After what I saw tonight I think my title defence against Paul Appleby will be very interesting."

Appleby's manager, Tommy Gilmour said: "Of course I'm delighted by Paul winning but he will have to tighten up his defence when he meets Simpson as Paul was caught by Szabo's punches more than I liked."

Meanwhile, Fifer Kevin Anderson's bid to regain the British welterweight title foundered with the three ringside judges awarding defending champion Kevin McIntyre of Paisley a unanimous points victory after 12 rounds.

And Glenrothes light-heavyweight Steve McGuire kept his unbeaten record by outpointing Welshman Jamie Ambler by 59-56 while Bannockburn welterweight and former eastern amateur star Jamie Coyle stopped Dewsbury's Tye Williams in the second round.