Carruthers Masters McCauley for title

Terry Carruthers has hinted on several occasions that he has what it takes to secure himself a professional strap.

And last night, in one of the headlining attractions on Coldwell Boxing's seven-fight card at the Second City's New Bingley Hall, the capable Brummie did just that - outscoring Kevin McCauley 97-94 for the vacant British Masters middleweight title.

Referee Terry O'Connor's tally [equating to 6-3-1 in rounds] looked a trifle generous to McCauley in my eyes, and i had Carruthers [pictured with his belt] a far more convincing 100-92 winner [giving the Stourbridge-based co-challenger a share of rounds seven and eight].

My way of scoring was shared [give or take] by those seated with me at ringside, but though the margin i tolled would suggest a one-sided encounter, the Birmingham vs Black Country ten-rounder was anything but.

McCauley may have a record that's light on wins but is a tough, honest pro who won a Midlands Area belt at welterweight and a British Masters title at 11st. But against an improving Jon Pegg-trained 26-year-old with solid fundamentals, he could do little but offer occasional counter assaults when his opponent bulled forwards.

Heavily-tattooed Terry, from the Lee Bank area of Birmingham, lost his debut scrap in his home city seven years ago but, subsequently, has gone unbeaten there in five [one draw] and has evolved from a care-free swinger to a measured boxer who works his way in behind a solid lead. 

Ex-bantamweight pro Pegg has been integral in that career turnaround from journeyman to dangerman and was pleased with his charge's professional showing against a durable 46-fight veteran [ten wins and three draws] who's handled by Black Country fight figure Errol Johnson.

And Pegg would have been delighted by the start Carruthers [11st 3lbs 14oz] made. After a quiet opening session, the Brummie sprung into life in the second - working the body and thumping rights into the 32-year-old's dome. He made McCauley's legs briefly buckle in the fourth with a short left hook and the same punch did damage three minutes later.

But Kevin [11st 2 1/4lbs] bit on his gum-shield and got his jab working in the seventh, one of the two rounds i thought he shared, cutting his opponent into the bargain with a right. But after making a bright start at the beginning of the eighth, he was stunned by a right to the body and follow-up left to the head in the last 30 seconds.

Holding marred the last two rounds of an always-absorbing 30-minute bout, with tiredness setting into the arms and legs of the willing combatants. But it was Carruthers who had his hand lifted upwards at the bell and the joy etched on his reddened face said more than a thousand words could.

For the new champion, who pushed current British light-middleweight monarch Brian Rose to the wire over six and improves to 10-11-6 (1), it's the first of what he hopes will be many titles. Brave and more composed in recent outings, he's looking to turn his career in the same direction as his soon-to-be Lonsdale Belt-challenging stablemate Max Maxwell.