Boxing: Weight change pays off as Simmons cruises to victory

IN DEMOLISHING Londoner Nick Okoth in one minute and 36 seconds of the second round at Braehead Arena on Saturday, Capital cruiserweight Steve Simmons vindicated ex-amateur coach Joe Fortune's theory that his punch power would be enhanced by moving down from heavyweight.

When referee Kenny Pringle stopped the bout, Okoth was bleeding heavily from nose and mouth courtesy of Simmons' rapier-like left jab and scything uppercuts.

Simmons said: "Okoth told me after our bout that he put me among the three best opponents that he had ever faced, which is a great compliment."

Queensferry's former British featherweight champion, Paul Appleby, showed he has lost none of his firepower when he dumped Youseff El Hamidi with a cracking left hook to the body in the second round for an eight count.

Appleby, who won every round of six by 60-54 points, said: "My aim was to win every round and I did that. He was hard to catch because he kept running but now I want either a Commonwealth superfeatherweight title fight or to challenge for an international title bout next."

Meanwhile, Lochend coach Terry McCormack praised light- middleweight John Thain's, masterly display of stiff jab-led combination punching which saw him beat Halesowen's Kevin McAuley for the second time, winning every round of four by 40-36 points. "McCauley gave me a good workout," said Thain.

At the top of the bill, Ricky Burns successfully defended his WBO super-featherweight title against Joseph Laryea after the Ghanaian retired at the end of the seventh round due to a damaged hand.

The 27-year-old Coatbridge fighter now wants a unification bout against South Africa's Mzonke Fana in order to get his hands on the IBF title and the Ring Magazine belt and he will ask manager Alex Morrison and promoter Frank Warren to make it happen.

"Everybody knows I would love to fight for that Ring Magazine belt," said the champion.

"Any boxer would love to get out there and fight for that Rocky belt, that's what we call it. I would love to have that round my waist.

"I'll be speaking to Alex and speaking to Frank and see if they can make the fight happen. The Ring ratings have got Mzonke Fana as number one and I'm number two.

"It's nothing personal, I'm sure he would love to try and unify the division as well.

"I was reading from his camp that they were saying all Frank Warren has to do is get in touch with them, so fingers crossed he can get it pulled off."