Tony Hill back on boxing title trail (From This is Hampshire)

Tony Hill back on boxing title trail

10:30am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Hampshire Sport

Tony Hill reignited his boxing career with a devastating third round knockout of Kelvin Young.

The Southampton-born fighter took a risky bout against Young in his opponent’s Swindon backyard to try and re-establish himself on the domestic middleweight map after two successive defeats.

It was a brave move by the 26-year-old, pictured, but one that paid off handsomely as he recovered from a nasty cut after an early accidental clash of heads to demolish Young with a massive left hand to win the contest.

The fight was an English title eliminator which means Hill can expect to be competing for another prestigious belt in the very near future.

His delighted trainer, Wayne Batten, said: “It was a fantastic fight and a great win for Tony.

“There was a nasty clash of heads in the first round but Tony was very professional about it and didn’t panic at all.

“He made sure he had a good look at Kelvin Young and then did what he had to do to win the fight.

“All credit to both fighters because it was a great contest but I am so glad that Tony came through it like he did.

“There is no hiding away from the fact it was a massive fight in Tony’s career.

“If it wouldn’t have gone his way then I’m not totally sure where we would have gone but Tony knew that as well and he didn’t take any chances and put in a superb display.

“I said before the fight that for me, with his ability, Tony is a championship fighter and he went out there and proved it to everyone.

“Don’t forget, this fight was in Kelvin Young’s backyard and it was his big night as well, a crossroads fight for him too.

“It took a lot of courage for Tony to take it but he was always very confident and he showed why.

“I am just delighted for Tony and his fans who, as ever, gave him fantastic support.“It was just a great night.”

Hill went into the contest on the back of back-to-back defeats to Kerry Hope and Billy Joe Saunders.

Despite losing those contests, the pair held European and Commonwealth titles respectively and meant that Hill had mixed with much better company than Young – and it showed.

Hill was left cut after the pair clashed heads in a thrilling first round but that didn’t put the former amateur star off his stride as he gave as good as he got in a toe-to-toe second before Hill landed the telling blow in the third.

Out of nowhere, he produced a flashing left hook which sent Young sprawling through the ropes.

Young had barely made his feet by the time the count was out.

Hill’s camp will now be looking to set up an English title shot with current holder Kreshnik Qato in the near future.