Above: Kris Carslaw (photo by George McLellan)

Western District Finals, Marriot Hotel Glasgow, 1st December 2006

Kris Carslaw (Paisley) ended a year or so of speculation on who the best welterweight in the country is with considerable style on Friday night at a packed Marriot Hotel. This was the bout everyone wanted to see and it didn’t disappoint.

Round one saw Jamie McLevy (Clydeview) and Carslaw showing one another total respect and just size up one another as both will be well aware of each others strengths by now.

Most of round 2 was more of the same until Carslaw hit the turbo-drive button and finished the mid point in explosive style.

Three & four saw the Paisley fighter stamp his authority on the final and he truly looks world class now. McLevy didn’t do a bad job, he simply met a man on top of his game when everything came together.

If Kris keeps up the improvement he has shown in the last year a podium place at the next Olympics is a real possibility. I’m just glad we have two such talented lads in the west and both are real gentlemen to boot.

Closest bout of the night was the light heavyweight encounter between James Cunningham (Dennistoun) and Brian Peacock (Barrhead).

Reigning champion Peacock was not going to let his crown be taken away and did well to stay out of the way of Cunningham’s sledgehammer right hand. This was very, very close as the scoring shows when the computer couldn’t separate the pair. The judges had to decide and gave it to Peacock 4-1, however it could have gone either way. I hope we don’t have to wait until next year to these two get it on again as this was a cracker.

Port Glasgow Victoria middleweight Kenny McDonald really dug deep to overcome Glenboig’s Steven Pilkington. This was another close encounter and it was McDonalds relentless forward motion which edged it in the last round.

Clydeview’s Michael McDonagh made sure Bert Watt had some cheer by narrowly outpointing Port Glasgow Victoria’s William Fowler. McDonagh was a bit fitter over the four rounds and the win was justified in the battle of the big men.

Eddie Doyle (Glenboig) had a much tougher night that he might otherwise have expected against Newarthill’s Ross McMurdie. This also went to the wire which just shows how fired up all the lads were for the honour of being named best in the west. Again there was only a couple of points in it by the end of the forth and McMurdie proved he will be one to watch in the future.

With a home crowd behind him, Paul McIlhanney (Noble Art) was always going to have the upper hand against Dennistoun’s John Thompson. I think this was both lads first time doing 4 x 2 mins but apologies if I’m wrong. Again both came out and battled as if their lives depended on it. When the MC Craig Stephen announced the 2006 Western District Bantamweight Champion was McIlhaney the venue erupted and you could see the sheer pride on young Paul’s face as he realised what he’d just achieved.

There were also two supplementary bouts and an exhibition.

Darren McAdam (Noble Art) made victorious return to the ring after a two year lay off with a hard fought win over the tough Ben McGovern (Barn) You’d have thought his father Kris would have given him an easier return but it puts him right up there again and he should be ready to mount a serious challenge in the Scottish with his pedigree.

Kilsyth Golden Gloves middleweight Andy Moffat had a good win over the more experienced Scott Cochrane (Noble Art) to make it two wins from two and get his career off to a good start.

Results:

M Coyle (Noble Art) EXH T McIlhaney (Noble Art)
Andy Moffat (KIlsyth GG) won v S Cochrane (Noble Art) pts
Darren McAdam (Noble Art) won v Ben McGovern (Barn) pts

Finals:
Bantamweight - Paul McIlhaney won v J Thomson (Dennistoun) pts
Light Weletrweight - E Doyle (Glenboig) won v Ross McMurdie (Newarthill) pts
Welterweight - Kris Carslaw (Paisley) won v Jamie McLevy (Clydeview) pts
Middleweight - Kenny McDonald (Port Glasgow) won v Steven Pilkington (Glenboig) pts
Light Heavyweight - Brian Peacock (Barrhead) won v James Cunningham (Dennistoun) 4-1 after double countback ended even.
Heavyweight - Michael McDonagh (Clydeview) won v William Fowler (Port Glasgow) pts

Boxer of the Night : Kris Carslaw (Paisley)

John McCluskey