Pearce: My gamble paid off (From Halesowen News)

Pearce: My gamble paid off

4:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Local Sport

DELIGHTED Steven Pearce says his Midlands welterweight title triumph is the perfect example of “who dares wins.”

The 28-year-old took the belt in blistering style, stopping Luke Gallear in the fifth round of their contest at Burton Town Hall last Friday.

For Pearce, who only took the fight at five days notice, it was quick redemption for a disappointing display at January’s high-profile Prizefighter tournament and justification for his brave move.

He said: “If you want things badly enough you have to be ready to take a chance, that is what the boxing is all about.

“Fighters like me, who are not with promoters like Eddie Hearn or Frank Warren, can’t get on any show we want or enjoy eight-week training camps free from the stress of work.

“When your moment comes you’ve got to grab it with both hands.

“When I signed with (manager) Errol Johnson, I told him if the fight was and the money was right I’d take it.

“As soon as I was asked about the fight I knew there was no way I was turning it down.”

The bout, which is already being touted as a contender for fight of the year, started at a frantic pace with Gallear taking the fight straight to Pearce.

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 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 stopped.

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

He said: “We both wanted it so badly.

“Looking at his record I thought he would not be too tough but he is much better than his record suggests.

“He put it on me a few times but I just gritted my teeth and really went for it.”

He added: “Now I’ve got the belt, I think it’s going to take something special to get it off me.

“I’ve a lot of respect for Jason Welborn and what he did as Midlands champion and I want to win it outright.

“But you should never rule anything out and if an English title shot came around at any time I would not hesitate.”

It was also a great night for Pearce’s training partner Kyle Spencer, who recorded his inaugural knockout win with a first round stoppage of Swadlincote’s Jimmy Price.