Shortty Carroll describes “comfortable” win over Scottish champ

Stephen Carroll [6(1)-0] registered the win of what was an action packed weekend for Irish boxing, defeating Scottish light welterweight champion Eddie Doyle in Motherwell.

Indeed, considering that he was awarded the away victory by just a round, one could reasonably assume that the Celtic Nations champion had his hand raised after what was the fight of the weekend at the AlonA Hotel.

The 78-77 scorecard suggests that a tight, tense and, as a result, entertaining fight played out in Scotland, but Carroll claims his performance was worth a much wider winning margin.

Indeed the scoreline is near-unexplainable considering that the Ballyfermot man dropped Doyle in the first round and forced the referee to give the home fighter two further counts down the stretch.

However, when the close score was read out, the Tony Davitt-trained and managed puncher did not fear a robbery in a fight which he took at short notice.

“I thought I was going to get the decision. I knew I was busier and better than him,” Carroll told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I was comfortable during the fight. I dropped him in the first and after that all he wanted to do was hold and tie me up. It should have been a wider score. The ref gave him three counts, one in the first and two in the last.”

Regardless of the scoring, the win is massive for Carroll. One of a number of Irish fighters in and around 140lbs, he has now won back to back bill toppers and has added a champion to his resume after going on the road.

The victory also boosted both the puncher’s confidence and ranking, and should see him move toward big fights in Dublin.

“I am happy with the win. It all looks like its starting to come together now. The increased ranking is brilliant and I will only continue to get better. People will start seeing the best of me in fights like this,” he added before fielding the obligatory ‘what’s next’ question.

“I have no one specifically in line. It’s just one fight at a time for me. Tony [Davitt], Martin Doran, and myself will see what is best for me.”