SUDDEN IMPACT - BREAK DOWN BY PHIL LINDSAY

Saunders detonates again on Tyneside card

Sedgefield hotshot Jeff Saunders once again made quick work of his opponent on Saturday night as he made it four 1^st round stoppages in a row as he dispatched brave Polish import Sylwester Walczak, taking his professional record to 4-0. Saunders' victory was part of Steve Wraith's Sudden Impact show at Dunston's Lancastrian Suite.

Saunders had stated his intent before the fight to take the opportunity should it come his way and he was true to his word, creating his own opportunities with some excellent inside work. Saunders landed with an excellent left-right combination which sent Walczak to the canvass, as well as sending the Pole's gum shield flying out of the ring.

After the gum shield was retrieved, Saunders went straight in for the finish. It wasn't long before he landed a superb left hand to the body which had Walczak writing on the canvas and it was soon clear that he wasn't going to beat the count. This time it was 1:49 of the opener when the fight was stopped, falling short of Saunders' previous stoppage inside just 15 seconds. The future looks a very bright one for the former amateur star. The immediate challenge is going to be matching him.

There were three boxers from the Fighting Chance gym on the card and all came away with impressive victories. They were expected to come through before a punch was thrown but they impressed with how they went about their work. Gateshead's Craig Dixon returned after an 11 month absence against Luton's Duane Grimes. Dixon showed no signs of ring rust as he came out and landed a stiff jab from the off.

Dixon followed up his success and landed a big right hand followed by a a classy right uppercut and Grimes looked like he could be there for the taking. Dixon duly pressed for the finish but when the necessary clean shot didn't come, Dixon eased back to his plan and he continued to pick Grimes off from the outside.

The same pattern continued in the second and Dixon seemed to be landing solid right hands at will. Dixon continued to wait for Grimes to show signs of breaking down and towards the end of the round the inevitable finish came as Dixon landed a flurry of unanswered shots which had referee Graeme Williams stepping in and rightly stopping the contest at 2:42.

It was Dixon's first career stoppage and although he will have tougher tests to come, it showed the work he has been putting in with his power shots is working well. Dixon is keen to get back into title contention and he will no doubt be looking for the chance of revenge against Sunderland's Lee Mould after their 2014 fight of the year for the region. Even if Mould has other plans, there are some excellent potential match ups at welterweight on the local scene.

Fighting Chance also had Gateshead's Mark White in action as he faced Bristol's Harvey Hemsley over 4 rounds. It was good action from the start with White showcasing his skills and letting off a range of combinations, with Hemsley pressing well and having particular success with good shots to the body.

White dominated the first two rounds but he was having to work harder in the third and Hemsley's determination and toughness were keeping him in the fight and not without success. White was still in control but he was under increasing pressure and it was a taste of how tough you need to be in the professional ranks.

White responded well in the final round and started putting more power into his shots to discourage Hemsley's raids. It was still tough in there but as it's often said, it's no tickling contest in there. White won the bout by 40-37 and goes to 2-0. White is huge for a super featherweight and with his excellent boxing skills, the potential is clear to see.

Fighting Chance's third combatant was the 4^th Regiment's Jone TK Volau as he made his heavyweight debut against Hackney's Larry Olubamiwo. Volau was looking to make a statement and although Olubamiwo is not the prospect he once was, it was still a tough ask for a first outing.

Volau started well in the opener, picking his times to attack and letting off lots of shots. Volau was giving 3½ stone and a lot of reach away so the game plan was always likely to be this way. Volau's most eye catching success was with a right hand that rocked Olubamiwo towards the end of the round.

Volau continued well in the second but although he was still landing, the impact was at the end of his punches and he wasn't having the desired effect he was looking for. All of the aggression was coming from Volau and big Larry didn't seem to want to know after taking that earlier right hand.

It was becoming frustrating for Volau in the third and he was having to work hard to compensate for the size disadvantage, as well as the cautious tactics of his opponent. Olubamiwo was having occasional success and he landed a big right hand on Volau, which proved that Volau can take a good shot as he came straight back with a big attack.

The final round was closer with Volau beginning to slow down and Olubamiwo seeing the opportunity to let a few more shots go. Volau ran out a 40-37 winner and although it wasn't the destructive debut he craved, the experience will serve him well and he is definitely going to be in some explosive encounters when he has opponents who come with more ambition.

Birtley's Tom Whitfield made his return after a 7 month absence as he took on Driffield's Danny Little. Whitfield was in control from the start, making the most of his size and reach advantage. Little came close with a few counters and did land one good right hand but it was Whitfield's superior boxing skills which dominated the first round.

Little tried to respond in the second as he tried to press forward but Whitfield was able to pick him off on the way in and kept it at long range. The same pattern continued in the third, although Whitfield was having to work harder and Little was having more success to the body.

Whitfield came out well for the final round, maintaining the distance and landing some eye catching combinations despite Little's valiant efforts. Whitfield ran out a 40-36 winner and takes his record to 4-0. After his great win against Daniel Cope earlier this year, he will be hoping to be out again soon and build on his success.

Completing the action we had Hartlepool's Richard O'Neill taking on Eastbourne's Scott Hillman over 4 middleweight rounds. Both men were making their debut and it was O'Neill who started impressively, letting his shots go and landing to body and head. Hillman made more of an effort towards the end of the round but O'Neill was well on top.

Once O'Neill had gained the upper hand, he wasn't going to let it go. By the end of the second round, Hillman was becoming more broken and ragged. Hillman came out well for the third and although he never took control, he was able to pose some questions to O'Neill that he might not have been expecting.

Both men came out for the final round and gave it their all and it was O'Neill who maintained the advantage. Right to the end Hillman tried to throw back but it was O'Neill's timing and focus which shone through and he took the win with an impressive 40-36 victory.