BURTON power puncher Ben Gower went into the record books with a whirlwind win in Derby.
Gower, out of the ring for five years, took just 12 seconds to win his comeback fight on a European Boxing Federation-sanctioned show — one of the quickest seen in a British ring.
The shortest professional fight lasted just four seconds and Gower went looking for the knockout from the opening bell of his comeback fight with Fleetwood’s Mark Smith.
The 35-year-old tore into Smith and unloaded volleys of heavy handed body punches. Smith was soon on the floor and, seeing the pain he was in, the referee waved the fight off.
John Ashton, the former British and European title challenger who works as a consultant for promoters Derbyshire Sporting Club, said: “I was told Ben was a strong, powerful lad — but I didn’t expect him to be that strong and powerful!” A pig farmer, Gower was joined on the bill by Craig Willshee and he made it a win double for Burton boxers.
Willshee was matched with Shaun Law from Rotherham in his first fight with the EBF and boxed his way to a points win over three rounds.
Willshee and Gower may get the chance to box on a show in Uttoxeter in the coming months.
Promoters Derbyshire Sporting Club are looking to stage a show featuring home-town favourite Carl Groombridge, Gower and Willshee, and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
