It’s been a tough week for Sam Gilley. He lost his grandmother on Monday and had a change of opponent on Wednesday.
Gilley didn’t impress him in the ring against Jack McGann. The returning junior middleweight scored a comprehensive fourth-round stoppage to retain his Commonwealth title on Friday at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.
The 30-year-old has not fought in a year since beating Louis Greene (UD 12) and expected to face him in a rematch with the vacant British title on the line. However, when Greene pulled out, in walked McGann, who was due to fight a six-rounder at middleweight.
Gilley (18-1, 9 KOs) got off to a quick start and caught McGann’s attention in the opening round, notably with a stiff right hand that snapped the challengers head back with a minute left in the round. He finished the round with a three-punch salvo that sent McGann down.
Gilley continued to stamp his authority on proceedings in the second. McGann (10-2-1, 7 KOs) ate two right hands that sent him to the canvas. Although McGann beat the score, he looked unsteady for a moment until he fired back.
That drew a smile from the defending champion who dug in and went back on the attack.
McGann, who had former world title challenger Martin Murray in his corner, enjoyed his best round in the third, trying to push Gilley back.
It continued in the fourth when McGann backed up Gilley on the ropes. However, he held his feet a little too long. Gilley found a home for a clubbing right hand that clearly hurt McGann, who retreated.
Gilley saw him momentarily and pounced, forcing McGann to seek cover on the canvas. Referee Darren Sarginson saw enough and called the fight off at 0:58 of round four.
Afterwards, an emotional Gilley shared his thoughts in a post-fight interview.
“Finally, I’m buzzing to finally get in the ring,” Gilley said. “I announced myself to Frank and Queensberry. I deserve to be here, I deserve to be on these platforms. I deserve to be in Saudi Arabia to fight the best people, get me on them and I will take them.
“When I needed it, I knew he would hit on something. I did the apprenticeship fights and Frank and I are a team. I showed them what I can do, let’s move on and collect more belts and keep having nights like this.”
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren was pleased with what he saw of his recent addition to his stable.
“I’m over the moon, it was a perfect performance against a guy who came to fight and he did it in style,” said the promoter. “It’s forward and upward, we’re going to work together.
“We will try to get the fight that should have been tonight (against Louis Greene). He wants to fight for the British title, that’s what we will do.”
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at (email protected) and you can follow him Twitter @AnsonWainwr1ght
