SAM GILLEY made a profitable first defence of his Commonwealth super-welterweight title in opposition to Jack McGann at York Corridor tonight.
The champion had been out of motion for 12 months since profitable the belt in opposition to Louis Greene in a home sizzler.
Greene went on to beat McGann in a single spherical earlier this 12 months and was set to face Gilley in a rematch tonight however withdrew resulting from harm.
The alternative tasted a trademark left to the physique from Gilley early on within the opening spherical and was confronted with a assured and smiling title holder. Gilley was the extra relaxed whereas McGann seemed to pressure his opponent on to the ropes the place he may do his finest work.
The challenger was in bother within the subsequent session when a double jab adopted by a proper down the center floored him with a minute left within the spherical. Gilley sensed an early evening’s work and went on the lookout for victory however was confronted by opposition which didn’t crumble and as an alternative fought again to see out the three minutes.
After placing collectively a mix of punches within the third Gilley was pressured on to the ropes the place McGann had success within the earlier spherical. The champion was not going to be bullied, nevertheless, and punched with the Liverpudlian to get again to the centre of the ring.
Within the fourth Gilley, 18-1 (9 KOs), turned his debut for Queensberry Promotions right into a memorable one by ending the competition after 58 seconds. That signature left hook downstairs warmed up the fingers of the 30-year-old after which a brief, jolting one-two despatched McGann, 10-2-1 (7 KOs), right into a world of bother on his again foot. This time Gilley received the job executed and swung with all his may forcing the referee to step in and finish the bout making certain the belt went again to Walthamstow with him.
“That is what I can do, I should be right here,” Gilley mentioned afterwards.
“I should be out in Saudi Arabia preventing the very best individuals.”
“I’ve had rather a lot frustration,” he added. “I misplaced my Nan final Monday, that is for her.”
His new promoter Frank Warren mentioned he plans to get the Gilley-Greene rematch rearranged with the vacant British title on the road.
