Ronnie “The Shark” Clark sank his jaws into the first professional boxing night in Dundee for 23 years, much to the delight of his home crowd.
The chant of ”Ronnie’s gonna get ya” filled the air and he did as his fans predicted, scoring with shot after shot on opponent Youssef Al Hamidi while also somehow managing to fight with a big smile on his face.
The 27-year-old Dundonian, who has turned to the noble art after excelling in kick-boxing, was clearly loving it and is now undefeated in six pro fights.
He earned a unanimous points decision in his lightweight battle against Syrian-born scrapper Al Hamidi in front of over 500 fans at Dundee Ice Arena on Saturday night the first such event in the city since 1989.
Clark, resplendent in his trademark pink shorts, got the judges’ vote after eight rounds and now boasts a record of five wins, one draw and no defeats.
After seeing off Al Hamidi, he said: ”I am absolutely delighted with that and it was great that the decision was unanimous. There was some nasty stuff as he was coming in with his head and he was also quite low at times with his punches but it’s a win.
”I am still undefeated and it was great to fight in my home city. It was a pleasure to go into the ring in Dundee and hopefully there is more of this to come.”
Clark’s triumph was watched from ringside by guest of honour for the night and the greatest sportsman the City of Discovery has produced legendary Olympic and Commonwealth champion Dick McTaggart.
Dick, still looking fighting fit at the grand age of 76, was also proud to see his sport returned to centre stage again in his birthplace.
”It is great to have boxing back in Dundee after so long,” he said. ”I think this is going to be a regular thing nowI don’t see why not. I loved it and the rest of the crowd did too.”
There was also plenty of other action to enjoy, with Clark’s fight supported by four others.
First up was Coatbridge super-middleweight Craig Windsor junior, who easily dominated his rival Paul Morby before claiming a win on points after four rounds.
Then came the turn of classy Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan.
Cheered on by some vocal fans who had travelled through from the capital to back him, McEwan teased and taunted his opponent Jay Morris.
There was a count to eight in the first round for Morris and it didn’t get much better for the man from the Isle of Wight after that.
There was even some outrageous showboating in the closing stages from McEwan and the Scot picked up a comfortable points win.
Then came the big disappointment for the Dundee crowd when local boy Arran McKelvie lost to Dunfermline-born Michael Stupart.
McKelvie came out like a tornado at the first bell and rained punches down on Stupart. It was a great start for him and had his supporters on their feet.
Sadly for him, though, Stupart was made of tough stuff and slowly but surely imposed himself on the bout.
The Fifer was getting through with punches to McKelvie’s body and three times in the third round the Dundonian was on his knees taking a count.
Twice he made it back up in time but it was third time unlucky for McKelvie as he was counted out.
It was the second loss of McKelvie’s career and certainly not in the script for the home crowd.
Willie Limond’s clash with William Warburton was the penultimate fight before Clark’s contest.
The Glasgow lightweight hardly broke sweat as he crept to a slow-paced victory over Warburton.
Photo David Young