Finnegan to consider future after unexpected defeat

Jonjo Finnegan is to have a serious think about his boxing future after being shockingly halted in Nottingham last night.

The popular British Masters 12st champion from Burton [pictured on the pads] had set his sights on an exciting-looking scrap with returning Rod Anderton for the vacant Midland Area light-heavyweight belt in 2012.

But a day shy of 12 months since he won his treasured title in a torrid ten-round struggle with Sheffield binman Dean Walker on a atmospheric night in his hometown, he was sensationally sent sprawling in two rounds by Doncaster's unheralded James Tucker.

Tucker, who secured his fifth win [second by stoppage] in 51 [three draws], uncorked an earth-trembling left half way through the second of a scheduled six-twos that sent Jonjo crashing to the canvas with a thud. Although he made it to his feet before the count of eight, albeit on unsteady pins, referee John Keane had a close look into his eyes and made the sensible decision to end matters at 1.29.

The warning signs were, however, there from the opening round, which Finnegan [12st 11 1/4lbs] edged on my card. As would be expected from an ex-Midland ABA champion who boxed for the Irish title in the pros, Jonjo was the superior technician but his unusually-lax defence meant that he shipped several of those soon-to-be-pivotal lefts and looping rights.

Now handled by former WBF super-featherweight boss Carl Greaves, the South Yorkshireman looked a different animal to the one i'd seen in the past, when he'd done just about enough to survive. Yet it was obvious to anyone at a packed-out Clifton Leisure Centre that the 26-year-old, naturally bigger but lighter [12st 9 3/4lbs] on the night, fancied securing his second win in as many outings - having dropped and outpointed unbeaten James Cunningham three weeks ago.

That was clearly re-enforced in the early moments of the second and then brutally underlined 89 seconds in when he connected with that thudding left that broke Finnegan's jaw. He's set to box in Halifax next week, against winless local Shazad Hussain, and what price on the now-streaking puncher to complete a hat-trick of victories?

What Jonjo, who sold over 100 tickets and now drops to 14-7-3, decides to do next is entirely up to him. If he decides to call it a career, the 31-year-old can hold his head high and be proud of capturing a professional title he'd craved from day one. But knowing the type of man he is, i can't see him wanting to bow out of the sport like that.

Incidentally, interested spectator seated next to me at ringside was Paddy Connors, the Derbyshire light-heavyweight who outpointed Tucker 60-55 on his paid debut last month. The well-built Irish-rooted scrapper boxes for the second time in Leicester on December 4 and happily mused that it made his comfortable win look even better.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.