WE’VE discovered something about Shabaz Khan following his debut on Sunday. The Alum Rock welterweight sells an awful lot of tickets, a huge number of tickets.
It was standing room only on Jon Pegg and Scott Murray’s promotion at Birmingham Airport’s Holiday Inn.
And Khan’s loud army of followers made up a large percentage of that packed house. They were rewarded by witnessing their hero’s stoppage victory over Michael Mooney, one of the game’s larger-than-life characters: frankly, the game’s largest larger than life characters.
Mooney, his left eye badly swollen, was retired by trainer Adam Harper at the end of the second. It was the correct and compassionate thing to do.
Khan was too fast and sharp for the Worcester veteran of 125 fights. Michael, game and gritty, was not going to win the four rounder, the damage was only going to worsen.
I did feel elements of Khan’s huge fanbase let their boxer down. They booed loudly and shouted abuse when Mooney entered the ring, booed during the introductions and even booed Michael when it was over.
A man who has faced real iron during a long career and saved many shows by taking short notice engagements deserves better. He deserves respect.
I applaud Pete Leachman, Khan’s trainer, for admonishing those fans from ringside and turning the jeers into cheers. He showed class, some in the hall did not.
While it lasted, 24-year-old Shabaz (10st 4lbs) showed plenty of promise. A product of Acocks Green ABC, he set a fast paced, used a piston jab, whipped left hooks to the body and finished the first with an eye-catching uppercut.
He showed maturity to touch with the jab in the second, then deliver hard rights. Mooney (10st 5lbs) tried to find the timing of old, but his efforts were hampered by the eye damage, seemingly caused by a clash of heads.
By the end of the session, I felt the war horse should be saved for another day. Harper felt the same.
