Corito outpoints Welton at Orpheum

Around 700 boxing enthusiasts flocked to the Orpheum Theatre in Gżira late Friday for the heavy-weight fight between local cham-pion Billy Corito and Scott Welton, of England.

Corito, the Hitman, had won his six previous fights by knock-out but against Welton, he had to go all the way to claim the spoils on points.

Corito and Welton fought six rounds of three minutes each. In the first round, both fighters unleashed a flurry of hard and heavy punches. Welton suffered a cut above his eye but the fight continued with attacks coming from the two quarters until Corito prevailed on points.

The night featured another fight between Dione Galea and En-glishman, Wayne Roberts. This contest was on four rounds of two minutes each.

Roberts put up a stiff challenge but not enough to beat the local boxer who won on points.

In three other support fights at the Orpheum, Daniel Micallef beat Richard Abu on points, Clayton Vella knocked down Kyle Azzopardi in the third round and Daniel Attard stunned Tyler Olivia in the opening round.

The boxing bonanza evening started with an exhibition fight between Darren Mercieca and Alfred Bonnici. There was also a kick boxing demo from The Art of Fighting martial artists Brandon Borg and Keith Mills.