Pearce wins "war" to take Midlands crown (From Dudley News)

Pearce wins "war" to take Midlands crown

3:25pm Sunday 3rd March 2013 in Sport

STEVEN Pearce claimed the Midlands Area Welterweight title by stopping Luke Gallear on Friday night.

The 28-year-old took victory in the fifth round after a bruising battle at Burton Town Hall.

It was a deserved win for Pearce, who only took the fight last Monday when Walsall’s Joel Ryan pulled out with a chest infection, though credit must go to gutsy Gallear, who more than played his part in a toe-to-toe tussle.

Speaking afterward a delighted Pearce said: “I’m buzzing.

“This time last week I was training for a six-rounder against William Warburton, now I’m Midlands Area Champion.

“It was a great fight. We both wanted it so bad. Fair play to Gallear, he’s a warrior. He took shot after shot and kept coming forward.

“I stuck to my plan though and it paid off. It’s a great feeling and this is just the start for me.”

The bout started at a frantic pace with Gallear (now 4-5-2) taking the fight straight to Pearce (now 7-1). Blows were traded for the full three minutes with Pearce throwing the quality and Gallear throwing the quantity.

‘Fierce’ Pearce rocked Gallear in the second with a powerful hook, resulting in his opponent taking an eight count. The Stourbridge man went for the kill but the gallant Gallear hung on and sucked up everything Pearce had to offer before finding a second wind, backing Pearce up on a number of occasions.

However, by the fourth round Pearce had regained his composure and started to combine his shots to good effect.

In the fifth round both boxers continued to come forward, keeping up the frantic pace set in the previous four rounds but after landing a flurry of shots Pearce sensed victory and when a series of spiteful combinations rocked Gallear again the fight was, quite rightly, stopped.

Pearce couldn’t hide his delight and rushed to his army of supporters before collecting the belt.

It was also a great night for his training partner Kyle Spencer, who extended his unbeaten professional record to five wins by stopping Swadlincote’s Jimmy Price.