Gary McCallum Outpoints Paul Allison for Scottish Crown

By Tom Gray

Gary McCallum (11st 5lbs) won the vacant Scottish middleweight championship with a convincing ten round decision over Paul Allison (11st 5lbs) at the Ravenscraig Sports Centre on Saturday night. Referee Victor Loughlin scored the bout 98-93.

McCallum, from Castlemilk, took his time to get the jab going but when he did it proved to be an awesome weapon. Allison rolled under the stick in the opener but still caught way too many head shots and, from that point, the pattern was established.

The Stranraer man was marginally better in the second but the crisp left lead from McCallum was hard to ignore as it was landing with accuracy and sent sweat spraying. Allison did score well to the body, which appeared to make McCallum momentarily uncomfortable, but consistency was the issue.

The middle rounds became repetitive as Allison was reduced to a wing and a prayer. McCallum looked too fit to be worn down and repeatedly nailed his man with the left hand and crossed the right with regularity. Anytime Allison got to mid-range he was bashed by quick right hooks to the head and if he got close he was tied up and turned.

McCallum exploited his opponent’s frustrations in the later rounds and got more and more accurate. Allison put the foot down in the final stanza but it was too little too late and the victor was never in doubt.

McCallum remains undefeated in nine and Allison drops to 5-2-1.

The show was co-promoted by Chris Gilmour Boxing and Paul Graham’s Prospect Boxing.

Billy Campbell (11st 3lbs) outpointed the previously unbeaten Ryan Scott (11st 8lbs) from Wishaw over four rounds at light middleweight.  Campbell fought brilliantly in round one and landed with two thumping left hooks to the head which gave him the session.  Scott exploded into action in the second and unloaded for a full minute but seemed exhausted from the effort.  Campbell, from New Cumnock, kept it tight in the third and fourth rounds and deserved Kenny Pringle’s 39-38 verdict.  The victor improves to 3-1.

Darren McAdam (10st 5lbs) from Glasgow outpointed Arek Malek (10st 3lbs) over six two minute rounds at light welterweight.  McAdam, a well-schooled southpaw, controlled ring centre with an educated right jab and turned in some snappy hooks to the body.  Malek was swinging for the back row throughout and never looked like troubling McAdam who kept things nice and simple.  McAdam improves to 3-0 (1KO).  Referee Ged O’Neil scored the contest 60-54.

Sean Watson (9st 7lbs) from Fauldhouse beat James Ancliff (9st 4lbs) in a competitive four round bout at super featherweight.  Watson got off to a great start, hurting the Aberdeen man twice in the opening round but failed to close the show.  Ancliff was always there and succeeded in frustrating his younger opponent but a point deduction cost him and Watson closed well to secure the decision.  Referee Victor Loughlin scored the bout 40-36.

Rhys Pagan of Sanquhar easily outpointed Michael Kelly over four three minute at welterweight.  Pagan, who was a terrific amateur, had too much of everything for Kelly and used the jab to set up imaginative combinations throughout each session.  Kelly gamely took what the youngster had to offer but could not mount a serious offence.  Referee Ged O’Neil scored the fight a shut out 40-36.

Jordan McCorry (9st 9lbs) from Stirling and Dougie Curran (9st 9lbs) from Newcastle fought their way to a draw in a six round lightweight bout.  Both men traded gamely in an excellent encounter which was loaded with action.  McCorry started well but walked on to the jab in the middle rounds.  The Newcastle man certainly didn’t deserve to lose and fought his heart out despite a spirited comeback from the Scot.  McCorry is now 5-0-1 (1KO).  Referee Kenny Pringle scored the bout 57-57.