Fireman Williams in a pleasing pro start

Williams keeps Hardy on the end of his jab. Picture: BCB Promotions

I’LL admit it.

On his pro debut, fireman Regan Williams looked a much better boxer than I expected him to be. Perhaps he undersold himself in the pre-fight interview. He told me he hadn’t pulled up any trees in the amateurs, he didn’t possess lights-out power.

Perhaps trainer Mitch Pearce has done some very good things with the middleweight.

Probably a bit of both.

On BCB’s major Friday show at The Hangar, Wolverhampton, Williams gave a very good account of himself to outpoint Joe Hardy 39-37 over the apprentice four round distance.

Leeds’ Hardy, with former fine pros the Manners brothers in his corner, is no slouch. With 40 bouts to his name, the 30-year-old is on a good run, having won two of his last three going into the contest.

And Hardy (11st 11lbs) played his part in an absorbing contest. He threatened with swinging rights and positively hurled punches in the final round.

Williams (11st 10lbs), a 25-year-old based at Oldbury Fire Station, kept his composure, changed from orthodox to southpaw and worked the body well.

He did get caught by a right in the third – probably the round referee Chris Dean gave to Hardy, but came back to open the throttle in a cracking last session.

He landed a left hook, then fired one-twos, only for Hardy to swing back with both hands. It was wild and woolly stuff.