Walsh and Appleby clash in potential classic

A new dawn for boxing begins this Friday September 30, when braggadocios Commonwealth super featherweight champion Liam Walsh 11-0 (8) defends his title against former British 9st boss Paul Appleby 17-2 (11)at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on the first show promoted by Frank Warren’s sons Francis and George for Queensbury Promotions, live on Boxnation. The new dedicated boxing channel kicks off with an intriguing 50-50 match up of young precocious talent. Champion Walsh,25, one of three boxing brothers from Croma, Norfolk believes he has the talent to one day contest for a genuine world title but is adamant he is not overlooking the threat posed by Appleby.  “All this talk of Burns next will come to nothing if I lose on Friday” said the confident titlist.

Unbeaten in 11 contests the former standout amateur won the belt with a tough point’s victory over Maxwell Awuku in October 2010 and successfully defended it last time out against determined Manchester fighter Jon Kays. Walsh had Kays down twice en route to a tenth round stoppage but he faces his toughest challenge as a professional in the accomplished Scot.

A year younger than the champion at 24, the South Queensferry native burst onto the domestic scene in June 2008 when, after a steady diet of journeyman, he stepped up to rip the British title from battled hardened countrymen John Simpson at the iconic Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. Looking like the next superstar to emerge from north of the border, he defended his belt against former European super bantamweight titlist Esham Pickering, easily outpointing the veteran before a clash of unbeatens saw him face quality Irishman Martin Lindsay. Arguably thrown in too deep too early against the hard punching Lindsay, he suffered his first loss, crushed in six rounds. He returned after a five month hiatus beating two journeymen in keep busy matches before he faced Ghanaian Joseph Laryea at the Braehead arena. In a contest Appleby will most likely want to forget, he suffered his second defeat to a tough but crude operator. In the wake of his second reversal the youngster was forced to revaluate his career, switching trainers to hook up with Coatbridge based Billy Nelson, who did wonders for the career of John Simpson and has guided Ricky Burns to world honours. Both men have a lot to lose in defeat but also stand to gain a possible world title chance against the aforementioned Burns with victory here in this mouth watering clash. Walsh has all the attributes to go far in the division, good mastery of distance, excellent variety of punches and the ability to switch hit but also the focus to concentrate when the situation dictates it. Appleby, freed from the strain of making 9st, may have the edge in physical strength and speed as well as the technique to land damaging punches to the liver. His new corner team believe he is in the best condition of his career, benefiting from the quality sparring on offer at Nelsons thriving gymnasium. A Walsh win would go some way to cementing his place at or near the summit of the domestic super featherweights and a possible clash with new British champion Gary Buckland, but likewise Appleby needs this win to kick start his somewhat faltering young career. It could come down to who can establish their tactics, Walsh looking to use his angled punches from mid range and work when on the inside and Appleby his jab and vicious body punching. My pick, in a possible thriller, is Paul Appleby with refinement from Billy Nelson, to pip the champion for a close points win.

In a West London derby on the undercard Steve O’Mera and Ryan Toms meet for the unbeaten Toms Southern Area light middleweight title. O’Mera, winner of 13 of his 15 fights will be hoping to inflict the first defeat on the heavy handed champion and secure a British title fight against the winner of Prince Arron and Brian Rose. Toms, a fourth round knockout winner over Pat McAleese last time out is 29-years-old and his team will be looking for victory here to move him on in class.