SOUTH QUEENSFERRY'S Paul Appleby became the new British featherweight champion after a taut tussle with John Simpson at the Kelvin Hall.
He denied Greenock's Simpson outright ownership of the Lonsdale Belt and, despite claims to the contrary from some members of the Simpson camp post-fight, it was a win whose quality was enhanced by the very stiff resistance offered by the Simpson i
n the early rounds.
He capitalised on an sluggish start by 20-year-old Appleby to take the first two rounds by out-jabbing the challenger.
But, once Appleby's coach, Steve McGuire, gave Appleby a rocket for his diffident start, the youthful challenger exploded into action in the third, scoring continually with solid jabs and stinging hooks to Simpson's head and body.
In the fourth a fired up Appleby stormed out, shrugged off a jaring Simpson head shot, and soon had the defending champion clutching to deny his younger rival punching space.
Then came the controversial fifth round with Simpson's backers claiming that a standing eight count imposed on Simpson by a sizzling Appleby left hook was, in fact, a slip but Paisley refereee, Victor Loughlin ruled that Simpson had indeed been caught by a punch.
At this stage, Simpson changed his tactics from trying to match Appleby blow-for-blow to clutching and smothering and fighting only in spurts.
But they were – on occasion – very effective spurts.
The champion landed three powerful head punches in round seven followed by a cracking double right to the pit of Appleby's stomach.
However, the seventh round was a last hurrah for the soon to be ex-champion.
In the eighth, ninth and tenth it was Appleby, with volleys of double hooks and uppercuts and solid rights, who pulled ahead.
By the eleventh, despite visibly tiring in what was his first time beyond eight rounds as a pro, Appleby still held his own against his more experienced opponent.
Even though Simpson stormed out in the twelfth and last round, it was Appleby who landed the bulk of the scoring punches right up to the final bell.
Birmingham official Terry O'Connor gave the verdict to t Appleby by 115-113 with the other two judges making it a narrow 115-114 scoreline.
Jubilant Appleby said: "I thought I won clearly-Simpson gave me some trouble to begin with but once my coach Stevie McGuire told me to wake up at the start of round three I never looked back.
"I feel superb and mean to be a good champion."
A delighted Tommy Gilmour, the new champion's manager and promoter, said: "I don't agree with those who are suggesting that Paul lost to Simpson or it was even as close as the one point suggested by two of the judges.
"I thought that Paul won by more than that.
"I think that Appleby is a ring diamond – but a diamond in the rough – we have still to see the very best of Appleby yet.
"But he's British champion at his age – what will he do once he is a fully-polished ring performer?"
A Simpson spokesman said: "We believe that the fifth round 'knockdown' was questionable. But for that knockdown, two of the judges might have a scored the fight a draw."
Appleby's mum Anne-Marie watched from ringside and said afterwards: "This is one of the proudest moments in our family's entire life – Paul was great and he deserves his victory as he has made great sacrifices to get where he is today. We will be holding a big victory party."
The full article contains 597 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
