Controversial title defeat for 'Sweet D'

Dee Mitchell's long-overdue shot at a belt ended in controversial defeat in Scotland last night (Friday, June 3).

In pro bout 24 - nine wins (two inside) and a draw in excellent company - the talented Birmingham switch-hitter came up short against undefeated local Kris Carslaw, 97-95 for referee Victor Loughlin, in a crack at the British Masters light-middleweight belt.

Yet many, including a large pocket of supporters at the biased and noisy surroundings of the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, thought Mitchell, 34, had done enough to take the belt back home with him.

Solid-hitting southpaw Carslaw, now 14-0 (3) after a tense 30-minute fight in which his limitations were brought to the fore against a willing and durable opponent who came to win, wasn't allowed to use his physical advantages against a compact, stocky Erdington-based scrapper who bullied his way inside to do his work. 

Though the 26-year-old Paisley puncher's work improved, there is talk he struggled to make the 11st limit and can consider himself fortunate to keep hold of both his undefeated record and a title he was making the second defence of.

Mitchell's handler, ex-pro Jon Pegg, admitted that although his charge probably deserved the nod, he could and should have done more.

"To be honest, if it was in England Dee would probably have got it," said the well-respected trainer, promoter and manager. "But if he'd worked a little bit harder in each round it would have taken away any doubt out of the decision."

There were also defeats for other Midlands fighters on the Chris Gilmour-promoted show in Scotland.

Another Jon Pegg-handled Second City scrapper, heavy-handed and always-game light-middleweight dangerman Andrew Patterson, dropped a six-round decision to undefeated Paisley lefty Stevie Weir, four wins in as many outings. Unusually subdued, 'Patt' was never in any danger of being halted and is back out in Liverpool next weekend.

Nuneaton's slick 107-fight Kristian Laight conceded an 80-72 nod to unbeaten Eddie Doyle, 8-0 (1), and Mansfield-based Latvian Pavel Senkovs lost for the 35th time in 39 against Robert Wright, now 4-0 (1). Matt Scriven-trained Senkovs was decked twice in the opening round but gritted it out to last the course, only to lose 60-53 after a six-twos.