Aberdeen Assassin Lee McAllister may have hung up his gloves, but an entertaining evening of highly competitive bouts at the Beach Ballroom on Saturday proved that the appetite for boxing remains well and truly alive in the Granite City.
Topping the bill was Aberdeen’s Darren Traynor, who recovered from being knocked down twice in the opening round to claim the vacant International Masters super-featherwight title against plucky Bulgarian Yordan Vasilev in a 10-round fight which went the distance.
The home crowd had been worked up into a frenzy by the time the main event arrived following wins for the Granite City Boxing fighters Ronnie Clark, Matthew McAllister and Marek Laskowski.
The atmosphere was electric as 27-year-old Traynor, the first Briton to win the famous Golden Gloves of America, entered the ring for the biggest test of his professional career on the back of an unbeaten record after seven bouts.
But it did not go to plan for the Aberdonian, nicknamed Trayn-Wreck, as he was knocked down within 30 seconds of the opening round after being caught with a flush right from Vasilev, an experienced competitor in his 49th professional contest.
Worse was to follow as Traynor was caught with another right moments later, but the fight resumed after the Aberdonian took a second eight-count.
Traynor looked shaken but unhurt after the early setback but managed to regain his composure as the fight progressed and began to put the Bulgarian on the back foot with some crisp combinations.
The Aberdonian had never previously fought a 10-round contest so this was a leap into the unknown but he continued to impress and showed little sign of fatigue as the fight wore on.
Both fighters celebrated victory after the final round of a tight and engaging bout with Vasilev kissing the canvas in the hope of tipping the score in his favour. However, Traynor took the title with a 96-94 decision – to the delight of the boisterous crowd.
Earlier in the evening, Dundee’s Ronnie “The Shark” Clark came out on top in another close super-featherweight contest against Kirkcaldy-based Latvian Andrejs Podusovs.
This was a stern examination for Clark, an undefeated former world kick-boxing champion. But after being knocked out of his stride in the opening rounds, he finished strongly with Podusovs only just surviving a flurry of punches in the final round as Clark made a valiant attempt to win by stoppage but ultimately had to settle for a 58-56 verdict.
In the most one-sided fight of the evening, Matthew McAllister enjoyed a convincing display against New Cumnock’s Billy Campbell.
McAllister, Lee’s younger brother, showed little signs of rustiness as he returned to the ring after 12 months out with elbow and knee injuries.
The 24-year-old, known as The Hawk, has been working with former world champion Ricky Hatton’s coach Bob Shannon and that appears to be paying dividends as he maintained his 100% record with a comfortable 60-54 win. Aberdeen-based Pole Marek Laskowski edged victory in the opening fight of the evening against Ayr’s Martin McCord in an absorbing four-round light-welterweight contest.