Matchroom boxers Richard Evatt and Darren Bruce are young men in a hurry.

Yet again, both boxers secured convincing victories at Cheshunt's Grundy Park Leisure Centre last Friday evening.

First up was featherweight Richard Evatt. The IBO Inter Continental champion was returning to the ring after a six-month lay-off to take part in a non-title fight against John T. Kelly.

Evatt practically sprinted to the ring, such was his keenness to get back into competitive action.

There was evidence of ring rustiness, however, as Kelly made a couple of telling openings of his own, before Evatt was able to establish his superiority and find his range.

From then on, it was one-way traffic, Evatt twice putting his man down for a count of eight, the bell saving Kelly as he dizzily arose for the second time.

Within moments of the commencement of the second round, Kelly was tasting canvas again, but bravely arose for more.

He need not have bothered. A right uppercut, followed by a punch to the head, put him down again and the fight was over.

"I felt a bit rusty," said a delighted Evatt afterwards. "You can't get all your sharpness back just by sparring.

"But I felt as strong as ever. No-one's gonna be able to stand against me once I get fully fit.

"Kelly was a tough customer. He's only been stopped three or four times in 50 fights.

"Because I was rusty, he caught me a couple of times. Of course it hurt a bit, but that's boxing.

"I was surprised when he kept getting up, but that's nice - I don't want to fight guys who just lie down. I need a challenge."

This was an important win for Evatt. His promoter Barry Hearn has promised him a shot at Radford Beasley's IBO world title early in 1999.

Unbeaten welterweight Darren Bruce was hoping for a more competitive bout than his previous one which lasted little more than a minute.

This time out, Bruce faced John Green, who looked confident as the bell began the proceedings. That confidence was, however, misplaced.

Forty seconds later, the fight was all over, as Bruce delivered a right over the top, followed by a short, powerful right upper cut to the ribs which took Green's breath, sending him down for a count of eight.

Green managed to get back to his feet but staggered over once again.

Bruce was delighted: "I'm over the moon. It would have been nice to have got a few rounds under my belt but, when you hit 'em clean on the chin like that, that's when they go down.

"I just want the fights to keep on coming. Perhaps after a couple more six rounders and a couple of eight rounders we can take a look at some kind of title eliminator or a Southern Area title."

Making his professional debut at Cheshunt was 19-year-old Hornchurch super bantamweight Nicky Cook who faced Sean Grant.

Cook's performance delighted his fans as he picked off his opponent almost at will with crisp, accurate punches before finishing him off within two minutes 28 seconds of the first round.

As an amateur, Cook had won 40 of his 47 contests and, on this showing, it was easy to see why.

"I was a bit nervous to start with," he admitted, "but I'm glad to get my first professional fight over and done with.

"I decided to take my time in there, and it paid off. I'm delighted."

Richard Evatt, left, and John T. Kelly are pictured during a bout which saw Evatt floor his opponent four times.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.