MYRON MILLS wowed the locals at Rollerworld with a fine display over six, returning to winning ways having slipped to a narrow points loss in a British title eliminator last time out.

Relaxed throughout and employing good movement and hand speed, he floored Devon’s game Des Newton in both the fourth and fifth rounds and benefited further when referee-for-the-night Kevin Parker docked the outclassed visitor a point late on for holding. The score was 60-51.

Only inside the distance finish of the night came in a scheduled six between Leicester’s popular Callum Blockley and Manchester’s Steven Backhouse, referee Parker waving an immediate halt with 34 seconds of the second remaining after Backhouse, who had been knocked over backwards very late in the opener, was sent sprawling again by a heavy right to the head.

Battle of the Joshes over four up at heavyweight went the way of Halifax’s Josh Sandland, who in beating Melton Mowbray’s Josh Quailey deservedly secured his third paid victory. Mr Parker scored 39-37 for the surprisingly mobile visitor at the finish, rewarding him for a generally busier performance.

Derby pair Harry Scarff and Alex Fearon both posted 40-36 victories having come through trouble-free encounters against Halesowen veteran Kevin McCauley and Cannock’s Lee Gunter respectively, while another four between two-fight local novice George Farrell and Brummie Brandon Perrin finished a little wider at 40-35 with Perrin doing well to rally after going down from a right early in the second.  

Two middleweight debutants, one from Derby and one from the village of Pinxton a dozen miles up the road, experienced varying fortunes. Derby’s Phil Wright was edged out in the show-opener by just a single point at 39-38 by Hull-based Lithuanian Zygimantas Butkevicius, who fancied this one from the off, while Shinfield-stabled Cory Hardy, pulling away after a close opener, came through 40-37 against Middleton’s always game Darryl Sharp.

The Verdict A mixed bag of a show proves highly watchable.