Toughest test yet for Tom Cowling as Newark boxer secures seventh successive win as a pro at the Lady Eastwood Pavilion
Tom Cowling earned his seventh straight win as a pro in what he said was a perfect lesson at this stage of his career.
Cowling, 25, of Newark, earned a 58-56 points win over Romford’s Kyle Paevie at the Lady Eastwood Pavilion at Newark Showground.
More than 1,200 watched on in what was the biggest night of professional boxing in the town’s history.
Cowling said: “It was my first time going the six round distance so I will come away from this fight learning a lot.
“It was tough, it was just what I needed in this stage of my career to progress.”
Cowling had the better of the opening round and, in the second, he forced a standing eight-count with a big overhand right.
The Newark middleweight was then caught himself in the third.
A tough fourth round followed but Cowling recomposed himself and dominated the final two rounds to continue his 100% record.
“When putting him down in the second I was trying too hard for the early finish,” said Cowling.
“I was loading up with my shots instead of just sticking to my boxing.”
Show promoter Carl Greaves, who also manages and trains Cowling, said: “Kyle was a lively opponent who came to win. He was dangerous himself.
“Obviously Tom caught the lad in the second round and put him down.
“Tom started really well with a heavy right-hand over the top, and he (Kyle) did really well to get up to be honest. I was shocked.
“After that it was a case of Tom looking for the next big shot rather than focussing on his boxing and upping his work rate.
“He was trying to set up the big power shot, which allowed the lad to get back into it because he started to read what Tom was doing.
“And in the third round he caught Tom because of it.
“Tom’s admitted it himself, he was hurt and he did well to see the round out.
“The kid (Kyle) won the third and fourth round, but Tom got back into it and dominated the rest of the fight.
“He was his own worst enemy at times, he could have upped his work rate and let his hands go a little bit more, but these things happen when you know you have the potential to win in that way (by knockout).”
Greaves said it was a positive experience for Cowling and one to be celebrated.
“But look, we are really pleased with the win,” he said.
“We saw he can really punch. Yes, it can be frustrating because I look at him and see how good he can be, but like I say, it is a win and he’s 7-0.
“It is a learning curve of course, when you put someone down earlier you do look for it.
“It happened to me a couple of times during my career, but the more experience you have the more you understand that they can easily get back into it.”
Cowling, who was one of seven of Greaves’ fighters to win on the night, said he hoped to continue his form and push on for an English title.
Greaves said he had similar hopes for Newark-based super welterweight Stanley Stannard who, like stable-mate Cowling, earned his seventh successive win on Saturday night.
Co-headliner and former English title holder Dec Spelman returned with a points win while Greaves’ stable of Sonny Price, James Richardson, Otis Lookham and Ireland’s Liam Walsh rounded off a successful night with points victories in their respective fights.
Reflecting on the record-breaking night of boxing for the town, which was filmed exclusively on Fightzone TV , Greaves said: “Out of the nine fights, seven were mine and they all won.
“The stable is really progressing at the moment and I have a lot of undefeated young prospects on my hands.
“We will hopefully aim to get them back out around the end of May because I need six to eight weeks to prep for a show and find good opponents.
“The Fightzone set-up on the night was fantastic and it was a good learning experience being in that space.
“The venue was new to me and we probably over sold it even though it can hold more people.
“There was roughly 1,200 on the night which shows the levels
“The boxing was top notch on the night and I was pleased with everything on reflection.”
Greaves will be ringside again on March 19 as David Avanesyan defends his EBU European Welterweight title against Finn Oskari Metz at Wembley Arena.
The defence will be Avanesyan’s first since his multi-fight deal with Queensberry Promotions.
