LEWIS Lawton looks to be an exciting addition to the pro ranks, judging by his performance on Saturday night.
It was not victory the itself at King’s Hall, in the 21-year-old’s home city of Stoke: the vast majority have beaten opponent Dale Arrowsmith in his 147 bout career.
It was the nature of Lewis’ victory over the journeyman from Hyde, Lancashire.
Arrowsmith was destroyed by body shots inside two rounds. Very few have done that to him.
Lewis, trained by dad Scott, a former British title challenger, looked razor sharp before pulling the trigger.
Now unbeaten in two – both by knockout, Lawton joined the paid ranks with an amateur pedigree that suggested he could make waves.
Saturday saw his stock as a prospect rise. Arrowsmith simply could not handle Lawton’s speed, accuracy and, at the end, the power of those punches downstairs.
In the first, Lawton (11st 2lbs) jabbed sharply, whipped in uppercuts and worked Arrowsmith’s ribs. He did take one right back, however.
The ending was dramatic and unexpected.
A short right to the body took everything out of Dale (11st 3lbs). He slumped to his knees, his face distorted by the pain, but valiantly clambered off the canvas at referee Ryan Churchill’s count of seven.
Seconds later, a carbon copy shot brought the contest to a violent conclusion. Arrowsmith tried to get up and was near upright when the one-sided affair was halted at two minutes 19 seconds.
By then, the towel had already been thrown by his corner.
Frank Warren’s major promotional outfit Queensberry were quick to snap-up Lawton when he announced his intentions to turn pro.
Saturday showed us why.
