4 December 2005 Oakengates Theatre, Telford v Abdul Mougharbel - 6 rds - draw
By MIKE LOCKLEY
Randlay featherweight Shaun Walton faces the unenviable prospect of meeting Syrian hardman Abdul
Mghrbel for a third time after Sunday’s clash at The Place, Oakengates, ended with honours even once again.
The fighters had previously drawn at the same venue but this time Walton fought
a better, and more controlled, fight, though referee Terry O’Connor couldn’t split them after six spirited rounds, scoring 57 points apiece.
I had Shaun one round ahead and the local lad was bitterly disappointed not to be declared
winner, but it was too tight a fight to be dubbed a bad decision.
Walton, 30, said: “I thought I won it 4-2. The performance has given me a lift, but the decision’s done my head in. Nothing he did hurt me.”
Shaun’s best
moments came in the first when he forced his smaller opponent back and twice got through with triphammer left hooks.
Dewsbury-based Mghrbel, a real jack-in-the-box bouncing around the ring before launching punches from strange
angles, got in the bout more in the second — which he won — and third, though the quality blows came from the home fighter.
Mghrbel was starting to enjoy himself in the fourth and even showboated before landing a heavy right.
Walton reasserted himself with big right hands in the last two rounds to take the decision on my card, if not the ref’s.
THIRD PRO FIGHT
14 October 2005 Leisure Centre, Huddersfield v Craig Bromley - 4 rds - lost on points
SECOND PRO FIGHT
16 September 2005 Oakengates Town Hall v Abdul Mougharbel - 6 rds - draw
FIRST PRO FIGHT
15 April 2005 Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury v Dave Hinds - 6 rds - won on points
By CHRIS HUDSON
.....There was at least some good news for Shropshire fight fans, Telford's Shaun Walton winning his first professional contest on a points decision.
The Randlay man had to contend with a late change of opponent, Folan of
Huddersfield pulling out to be replaced by Dave Hinds from Birmingham.
Walton started well to take at least two of the first three rounds but broke a knuckle in his left hand trying to land a jab in the third.
He was able to
hold on from then and scraped the bout with the judges scoring 58-57 in his favour.
"It's brilliant because that was my first professional fight and I'm over the moon," declared Walton.
Feb 15, 2005
Shaun joins the prizefight ranks
By MIKE LOCKLEY
Randlay's Shaun Walton has become a surprise addition to Shropshire's growing band of professional boxers. Walton, twice an ABA semi-finalist and former Midland champ, has decided to
punch-for-pay a year after bowing out of the amateur game. He has signed forms with Black Country promoter Dave Bradley and will again share a gym with Tristan Davies, another product of Donnington Ex-Servicemen's Amateur Boxing
Club. Likeable Walton admits he's left it late at 30, but insists there are plenty of fights still in him. He said: "I didn't have my first amateur bout until I was 20, so there's not many miles on the clock. "I think I can
carry on until I'm 37, but I'll be taking it fight by fight." Shaun, who met the very best at bantam and feather during stints with Telford and Donnington boxing clubs, added the lure of the ring proved too great to pass by. He
added: "I don't miss the nerves or the weight-making, but I've really missed the buzz. I've missed fighting, to be honest. "I've kept myself in pretty good shape and am walking around now at 9st lOlbs, so I don't think I'll be
fighting any heavier than light-weight." Walton, who had a massive following as an amateur, is now searching for a sponsor to help cover training expenses. Anyone interested should contact him on 07815 781160.
The fighters had previously drawn at the same venue but this time Walton fought
a better, and more controlled, fight, though referee Terry O’Connor couldn’t split them after six spirited rounds, scoring 57 points apiece.