A showcase for punch perfect Luke Paddock

The former Midlands light welterweight champion shut-out capable scrapper 'Fonz' Alexander Anderson in the top liner at Walsall Town Hall, writes Craig Birch.

Potential rival Martin Gethin, the former English and British titlist, watched on from ringside having pulled out of appearing on the show through a chest injury.

Gethin remains coy on the prospect of undertaking a 'Battle of Walsall' with Paddock, who seems ready to make a step up on this evidence.

'Cool Hand' established the jab early and set a pace Anderson couldn't match, as his opponent ducked and dived looking for openings.

Paddock was even more effective when he got his toes and made room to pick his attacks, as he shut out Alexander this time over six rounds.

The two also clashed at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock last February, with Paddock losing a round before winning 59-55 on points. This time, it was a flawless 60-54 verdict.

All six of the under-card contests were four rounders, with Black Country duo Tom Stokes and Sid Bowater both going for the kill.

Midlands light middleweight champion and two-time British title challenger Jason Welborn provided chief support.

Rowley Regis' Welborn was in action for the first time since courageously taking three-time world title challenger Matthew Macklin the distance last October.

The never-stopped Adam Jones proved a durable roadblock and made it competitive early on, taking a share of the first round.

Welborn settled into proceedings and blew off the cobwebs, testing Jones to the body with hooks and screw shots. One of the latter landed bang on the sternum.

The tough Jones made it through, but Welborn will be happy enough to get the rounds in the bank. His hand was raised by a 40-37 score-line.

The naturally-heavier Luke Allon tried to bully Stokes in their middleweight bout, but only succeeded in spurring him on.

The big bombs were flying in from both men until Stokes sent him into the corner with a loaded left hook in the third.

He then went hell for leather at his trapped foe but Allon, of sound pedigree, bobbed and weaved and eventually escaped. He even showboated.

But there was nothing for him to smile about when he had to take a knee seconds later, after a right hook to the body rattled his ribcage.

He gathered himself and boxed on to the final bell, meaning Stokes had to settle for a 40-36 points shut out on the cards.

Welterweight Bowater scored a first round knockout of Brummie Dwayne Sheldon with literally the last punch of the first round.

Sheldon was prone to the right hand over the top, absorbing one well but there was no shipping the second blow.

Bowater got all of his power behind a shot that flattened Sheldon, with referee Shaun Messer waving him off on the floor. His legs were still gone even when he did get back onto his feet.

The time of the stoppage was three minutes exactly, meaning the bell could have saved Sheldon if he had recovered. Bowater's vociferous supporters were delighted for him.

Former world kickboxing champion Kyle Williams, from Whitmore Reans in Wolverhampton, had plenty to contend with on his pro debut.

The 24-year-old turned over at bantam against Anwar Alfadli, who fancied his chances of spoiling Williams' party.

The wily Kuwait-born journeyman from Sheffield has only ever been stopped three times, with this his 64th pro outing.

Williams tested his jaw out with a left uppercut as they tangled near the ropes in the first, but struggled to pin down the tricky Alfadli regularly.

And the odds were stacked against him in the third, when the doctor was called to the ring to examine a wound that was ruled to have been caused by a punch.

With swelling and a huge gash above his left eye, Williams could have been stopped. Thankfully for him, he was allowed to continue.

Guts and bravado got him to the finishing line from there, going into the trenches as he resiliently took the fight to Alfadli.

He pushed over Alfadli on the way, who sprang back to his feet. Mr Messer was called into action and had Williams up 40-37, dropping just a share of a round.

Fellow ex-kickboxer Chad Sugden turned over at middleweight, earning a 40-36 points landside over durable Lithuanian Deividas Sajauka.

Burton's Leon Gower opened the show, body punching leading him to victory over Qasim Hussain by the same verdict. Kevin Parker was the other referee working on the night.