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 New champ Tony seeks more glory
04 February 2009
TONY SALAM and Vinnie Mitchell both put win number eight on their pro records with four-round triumphs at York Hall on Friday night as Salam halted Romford's Richard Horton and Mitchell repeated an earlier points win over Crawley's Robin Deakin.
Salam was happy to bounce back with the Southern Area super middleweight title success in his return to action from his lone pro setback - a stoppage defeat by Courtney Fry at light-heavyweight in the same ring a year ago.
The confident Chadwell Heath fighter is aiming to make his mark in the super middleweight division.
"I know I have the power to beat most of the super middleweights around right now," he insisted.
However, Salam's new trainer, Babatunde Ajayi, believes the fighter's build-up in the lighter division will not be too rapid.
"We will take it one step at a time, Tony has a lot of ability, but there is no point in rushing him," insisted the trainer, who coaches his fighters at Newham's Peacock Gym.
The former ABA winner still looks a heavy puncher at the weight and his attacks carried too much power for Horton.
The Romford fighter, like Salam, was going for the title with just a single defeat on his record and although he tried to hit back, he generally finished second best in the fast-punching exchanges.
Salam landed the damaging shots and when the blood started to flow from a gash above Horton's eye in the fourth round, referee Richie Davies guided him to his corner to consult the doctor.
The blood would have certainly impaired Horton's vision and the official stoppage looked sensible.
Meanwhile, Mitchell powered to his eighth straight success with a 40-36 points victory over the ever-willing Deakin in the four-round contest.
Crawley's 'Rockin' Robin had dumped Mitchell onto the floor of the York Hall ring before losing on points a year ago, but did not look like repeating the knockdown in the return clash.
Mitchell was always going too well for his rival, switching his attack from the mid-section to the head, with a more confident performances.
Solid left hooks had Robin rocking in the fourth round, but he survived to leave Mitchell a clear points winner.
Trainer Paul Cook was pleased with the undefeated prospect's display.
"We have been working in the gym on getting Vinnie more relaxed, taking his time to pick his shots and the improvement certainly showed against Deakin," he said.
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