ALL three TRAD TKO Gym fighters recorded victories on yet another outstanding 8-fight card at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Sunday 18th November courtesy of Left Jab Promotion’s ‘Matinee Idols’ show. It was an action packed afternoon at the home of British boxing as female fighter Areti Mastrodouka captured the International Masters Super Featherweight Title, with Eren Arif prevailing in a 4 round bout and debutant Tommy Martin forcing a third round stoppage over his opponent. As a result it was a good day for the trio, who are based at the Canning Town gym and trained by Alec Wilkey.
Tommy Martin, Eren Arif, Jimmy Tibbs, Alec Wilkey, Areti Mastrodouka
Unbeaten Greek southpaw Mastrodouka was in fine form once again as she took on Welsh fighter Lana Cooper, in the first title fight for both boxers in 8 x 2 minute rounds. It was Cooper who started the faster of the two boxers but as Mastrodouka settled into her rhythm she started to land her straight left hand frequently and back her opponent up. In the second round it was ‘The Master’ Mastrodouka taking control of the exchanges and she caught her opponent with a flurry of hooks to the body as she forced Cooper onto the ropes. As the bout progressed, Mastrodouka was dominating each session by using her jab as the range finder and landing the straight left hand and then switching the attack from head to body. It was no surprise when Mastrodouka was crowned International Masters Champion with the judge scoring every round in her favour with a score of 80-72, and she is surely en route to a world title shot with a record of 4-0.
Bruce Baker, Miranda Carter, Alec Wilkey, Areti Mastrodouka, Johnny Eames
Rotherhithe Light-Welterweight Eren Arif put on another solid display in his second bout after a winning debut back in September. Arif was matched against Aleksas Vaseris in a lively 4 round bout which saw both boxers having success. After a cagey first round, the second saw Arif on the front foot, coming forward and throwing hooks to the body and head. But it was the third round where Arif showed his superior skills, with punch variation and some good combinations even knocking Vaseris’ gumshield out. The final round produced some great action as both boxers went to toe to toe, but it was Arif that edged it in the eyes of the judge winning by a score of 39-37, taking his record to 2-0.
Tommy ‘Da Gun’ Martin made a sensational debut with a 3rd round TKO win in front of his army of supporters. The 18 year-old Lightweight from St Neots, who recently joined Johnny Eames and Alec Wilkey at the TKO Gym, took on Lithuanian Artur Saniuk over a scheduled 4 rounds in which he dictated the action. Martin looked to establish his jab in a pretty even first round, but it was the second session where he increased the tempo and forced Saniuk to take backward steps, throwing hooks to the body and head as a result nearly stopping his man. But Saniuk’s fate was sealed in the third when Martin piled on the pressure and then whipped in a left hook to the body followed by a right hand which knocked Saniuk to the canvas. Saniuk got to his feet but referee Jeff Hinds waved the fight off signaling Martins first win.
Published on WBAN. We cover women’s boxing and men’s boxing.