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‘Natural’ talent – James McGivern registers mini statement on Golden Contract card

James McGivern registered a mini statement win in Kirby tonight.

‘The Natural’ dropped and comfortably out pointed the notoriously hard to look good against Jordan Ellison on the Golden Contract card.

Not only has Ellison fought them all including Jono Carroll, John Joe Nevin, Gary Cully, Marco McCullough and Davey Oliver Joyce, he has been competitive against some early stage prospects.

With that kind of history and experience he had the potential to ask some questions of a one fight novice.

The Belfast fighter proved he isn’t your average novice with an impressive performance and victory.

The Commonwealth Games and European Youth medal winner dropped the fighter, who has only been stopped six times in 31 defeats, en route to a 60-53 win.

Ellison won the battle of the ring walks, as he danced his way into the squared circle while Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas’ echoed around the venue- but that’s were his victories stopped.

McGivern held the centre of the ring from the off, working behind a nice southpaw jab.

When the chance arose the technically minded lightweight did let some combinations go and showed he has an aggressive side.

The experience Ellison never comes just to survive and tried to impose himself early in the second round.

At that stage McGivern showed why he was christened ‘The Natural’ by his father, punishing any aggression with some beautifully timed flurries.

He came within a tenth of a second of stopping his foe by the end of the second, the teak tough journey man dropped by a perfectly timed body shot.

The English fighter got up and nine and half, the referee crossed his arms ready to wave it off, but gave Ellison the benefit of the doubt with just seconds of the round remaining.

Ellison came out protecting his body in the third and firing. However, McGivern continued to show class and punished any half mistake the journey man made.

The fourth was a quieter round, much to the delight of Ellison it seemed. The away fighter was more defensive and rarely held his feet after being hurt and as a result the Belfast man wasn’t having as much joy. He was still on top and out boxing his foe, but the stoppage wasn’t on the cards in the final few rounds.

McGivern did press in the sixth and again showed flashes of natural talent and skill.

However, Ellison isn’t going to be stopped with the finishing line in sight meaning the recent National Elite Champion had to settle for a points win.

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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