Concepcion downed again

Martin Concepcion hoped a win on Saturday would inject zest into a career that promised so much but never delivered.

But the chin-or-be-chinned Leicester banger (pictured) was brutally swatted aside in less than five minutes by Belarus' Siarhei Rabchenka on a Hatton Promotions-promoted, Sky-televised show in Bolton on Saturday night (February 26).

Concepcion went unbeaten in his first eleven paid fights but has gone 6-9 since, with six of those defeats coming inside the distance. He was knocked out in eleven by Sam Webb in a challenge for the British light-middleweight title last time out and has to be seriously considering his options after this latest setback.

Okay, so Rabchenka, 25, was undefeated in 15 entering (11 early) but, aside from a six-round stoppage over once-decent but shopworn Ukrainian Roman Dzhuman, was untested and even the Midlander had been unimpressed with what little he'd seen.

"He's been put in with people who are there to survive," said the 29-year-old former Midland Area champion, who once smashed then-unbeaten Matthew Hall to a one-round defeat, before his scheduled eight-rounder.

"He's had things all his own way so far," he continued. "If he wants to stand and trade punches with me, he will feel my power.

"We'll see what happens when someone hits him back."

Yet Concepcion, who also unsuccessfully challenged for the Commonwealth 11st strap in 2007, was never at the races with the Eastern European, hitting the deck early in the second stanza after an accumulation of solid punches. Although he beat the count, a left to the body sunk the East Midlander again and, after looking closely into his eyes, promoted referee Phil Edwards to call a halt to proceedings with 1:41 of the round gone.

Capable enough to beat those slightly below domestic level it's difficult to see what's next for Martin, now 17-9 (10), who is seemingly too fragile to carve out a decent career as a journeyman. Besides, his competitive urges and bulldog pride would probably rule that route out anyway.

Another Leicester fighter, Lester Walsh, also tasted defeat on the undercard - shut-out by local lad Kieran Maher, now without a blemish in seven, over four. Durable Walsh was a national amateur champion in his youth but lost for the 14th time in 17 paid bouts. 

Ball's body shots secure Area 11st crown

Undefeated Coseley light-middleweight Jamie Ball lifted the vacant Midland Area light-middleweight title on his second attempt with an eight-round KO over hard-as-nails Nottinghamshire scrapper Andrew Alan (A.A) Lowe on Saturday night (February 26).

First Team (PJ Rowson and Errol Johnson) promoted the seven-fight card at Walsall Town Hall, which was the first time professional boxing had been at the town centre venue since the pair put in a show here in October 2006.

And 12-fight (11 wins, two inside) unbeaten southpaw Ball (10st 13 3/4lbs), who was held to a draw against Keiron Gray in his first crack at this belt in December, ground-down the former Marine, now 8-4 (1), forcing referee Bob Williams to count him out after absorbing a left to the body 43 seconds into the eighth of a scheduled ten.

Truth be told, the Black Country boxer (pictured) was simply too big for the Carl Greaves-handled Newark scrapper (10st 13 1/2lbs), making his natural advantages in size more and more evident as the interesting fight progressed. 

Now with his first belt strapped around his 11st waist, there's plenty of options for 26-year-old Ball - and Jon Pegg hinted that he'd be interested in putting his charge, erratic Brummie brawler Terry Carruthers, in with the newly-crowned Midland Area king.

On the subject of former decent pro Pegg, another one of his fighters - have-a-go welterweight Andrew Patterson (10st 10 1/2lbs) - registered his fourth paid win (and his fourth stoppage) with a final-round stoppage over undefeated hometown hero Danny Clews (10st 11 1/2lbs).

Willing and tough, Patterson is quickly getting a reputation as one of the most dangerous journeyman on the pro circuit. He's scalped two undefeated men, and destroyed the hopes of two touted debutants. On top of that, 'Patt' held unbeaten Matt Doyle and Keith Sheen to draws in his 22 fights.

But Clews, 22, sliced open his durable opponent in the opening round and was probably edging the contest until the 31-year-old from Birmingham unleashed a cluster of punches that prompted referee Rob Chalmers to dive in and rescue the Walsall welter at 1:45.

Eastern European fighters are always interesting; they're either durable or fold like a piece of soggy paper. And the two brought in to face unbeaten Black Country duo, Dudley's Chris Male (9st 2 1/2lsb), 10-0 (1) and West Bromwich's Lee Glover (9st 3/4lbs), now 5-0 (2), definitely belong in the latter category.

But that wasn't to be expected, in truth. A quick glance of the resume of the Bulgarian pair, Fikret Remziev (9st 2 1/4lbs), who was decked twice and iced in the opening round of a six-threes by Male, and Plamen Kostadinov (9st 3/4lbs), who was also dropped and knocked out - this time in three by 'Tipton Slasher' Glover - showed only a combined eight stoppage defeats in almost 30 outings.

Yet Mr Chalmers counted out Remziev 2:28 into the first stanza; Williams tolling the ten count over Kostadinov after 37 seconds of the third of a set six-threes. Both Glover, only 23, and Male, the British Masters super-featherweight champion, are talented men who could do with a step up.

Other results saw Stafford first-timer Grant Cunningham (11st 11lbs) drop (round five) and outpoint Scunthorpe's Davy Jones (11st 8 1/4lbs) over six-twos. Jones was sliced open in the second and Bob Williams' 60-53 scoreline highlighted the Staffordshire super-middleweight's superiority.

There was a winning debut for Sedgley's Tom Bowen (10st 11lbs), who was given a 40-37 four-twos nod over Tamworth's always-willing Matt Seawright (10st 13 3/4lbs). But Myles Holder's (11st 5 3/4lbs) four-fight winning run was brought to an end by durable Ryan Clark (11st 8 1/2lbs), who earned a 38 apiece four-twos draw.

Referee for both was Mr Chalmers.

Ryan now a two-weight Area boss

Dave Ryan's decision to drop seven pounds and challenge for the vacant Midland 10st title proved to be a fruitful one on Sunday afternoon (February 27), outpointing slippery Leonard Lothian over ten.

The 27-year-old Derby stylist (pictured), boxing at light-welterweight for the first time since his debut four years ago, dominated a man he'd outscored over six - in Nottingham in 2007 - to secure his second Area strap. 

Referee Shaun Messer marked the ex-Midland welterweight king (10st) a handy 98-93 victor.

Ingle-handled Lothian (9st 13 1/2lbs) possesses all the hallmarks of his stable's style: fleet-footed, awkward to hit and punches that come from angles that can't be predicted. But the Northampton boxer's famed allusiveness couldn't protect him from a sharp lead left from Ryan, whose non-stop pressure started to show as the fight progressed to the latter stages.

Ryan, 10-4 (2), dominated the eighth and ninth, with a well-timed right sending the 28-year-old into a corner and doing well to survive the follow-up onslaught. But survive he did and made it to the final bell only to lose for the ninth time in 21 (two draws).

But it was a bad day for promoter Clifton Mitchell's son, Ty Mitchell, on the four-fight Heritage Hotel card in Derby.

Mitchell, undefeated in two entering and trained by his ex-pro heavyweight dad, was penciled in to compete in the super-middleweight Prizefighter in Liverpool next month but slipped to an unexpected 39-38 four-threes defeat to capable Lee Duncan.

Duncan, a last-minute replacement for Danny Goode, outweighed Mitchell significantly (13st 1lb to the Derby prospect's 11st 12lbs) and that proved crucial as the Sheffield switch-hitter, whose up-and-down paid ledger reads 3-5-2, out-muscled the 20-year-old in the middle rounds.

Not even a verbal dressing down from his dad before the final three minutes was enough to swing matters Ty's way, with Mr Messer lifted the away fighter's hand as the bell rang.

Mitchell stormed from the ring but is still expected to compete in Prizefighter next month. The loss could do him good.

Two novice East Midlanders picked up wins on the undercard.

Long Eaton's Leon Mrvik looked set to concede defeat on his pro bow but, after finding his feet, put in a huge final round to secure the victory, outpointing Surrey slugger Hayden Chick, now 1-2, 58-57. Both weighed 11st 7 1/2lbs.

Another one-point winner was Derby lightweight Paul Frost (9st 7lbs), who survived a cut in the third to have his glove raised 58-57 against sturdy Wiltshire journeyman 'Dirty' Dan Carr (9st 11 1/2lbs). Despite inspections to his wound in the fourth and fifth stanzas, Frost wobbled Carr in the penultimate round and won for the second time in three.

Rob Chalmers handled both six-twos.

Area titles to be decided over weekend

A brace of Midland belts are up for grabs this weekend on two good-value shows.

Firstly, on a First Team-promoted show at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday night (February 26), Coseley's 11-fight (10 wins, one inside) unbeaten Jamie Ball and Newark's ex-marine Andrew Alan (A.A) Lowe (pictured) clash for the vacant 11st strap.

Interestingly, this will be the first show at the Town Hall since October 2006.

Sturdy southpaw Ball, 26, boxed for the same title before Christmas, being held to a ten-round draw with dangerous Telford's Keiron Gray, who managed to deck the Black Country lefty in the final three minutes.

Gray retired immediately after and now Lowe, 8-3 (1) and who is only boxing for the third time in three years, gets a second chance to secure the Midland belt. He fought for the welterweight version in 2008, and was ground down by hard-as-nails Mark Lloyd in eight rounds.

The following day (February 27), at the Heritage Hotel in Derby, hometown hero Dave Ryan crosses swords with Northampton's Leonard Lothian, 10-8-2, for light-welterweight belt.

Ryan, who held this belt at 10st 7lbs until a shock defeat to erratic Kevin McCauley last October, has lost three on the bounce (albeit in solid company) after racking nine wins (two stoppages) in ten but holds a six-round points victory over Lothian in 2007.

Styles should mesh well on Clifton Mitchell's Sunday afternoon card, with the 27-year-old East Midlander favourite to add his second Area belt at a second weight.

Parker in line for Area title chance

Duane Parker knows extending his unbeaten pro record to 13 fights on Monday night (February 28) will lead to a title shot in April.

The Woodville light-middleweight meets Leicester's always-willing Simon Fleck, five wins and a draw in 14, over eight rounds on a Pat Cowdell show at Birmingham's Holiday Inn - and is then penciled in to fight the winner of the vacant Midland Area 11st title scrap between stablemate Jamie Ball and Andrew Alan Lowe, who meet on Saturday night in Walsall.

Tall and measured, Parker, 23, has rattled out 12 wins in as many paid outings and, after an almost-four-year apprenticeship, is itching for title action.

“I feel I’m ready to take the step up,” said the Derby County supporter, who dropped his last opponent, Rick Boulter, on the way to a resounding six-round points victory in Birmingham last month. 

“I’m improving and hitting harder.”

Another Errol Johnson-trained Burton boxer on Cowdell's city centre card is British Masters super-middleweight champion Jonjo Finnegan, 13-5-3, who meets Derby's Elvis Dube over six.

Former Irish light-heavyweight title challenger Finnegan, who boxed Parker's opponent, Fleck,  as an amateur, captured his first pro title in Burton in October - a hard-fought ten-round nod over Sheffield binman Dean Walker (who'd held him to a draw in 2006) - and a win in the Second City will see him top the bill in defence of his Masters belt in April.

Macklin: Winky's Wright for me

Matthew Macklin believes his ten-round clash with living legend Ronald 'Winky' Wright in Las Vegas has come at the right time.

The two-time former European middleweight champion from Birmingham takes on Wright, the first-ever undisputed champion at light-middleweight back in 2004, at the MGM Grand in Vegas on April 9, and feels going in with a man of the Florida southpaw's experience will only make him the fighter he longs to be.

"This is exactly the kind of fight I've been looking for and I believe it will bring out the absolute best in me," said Solihull-based Macklin, 28-2 (19).

"He's been in 15 world title fights and fought the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Paul Williams, as well as having a pair of wins over Shane Mosley and a shut-out win over Felix Trinidad.

"On top of that, he has been consistently considered amongst the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world over the last decade."

Although nine months shy of 40 and being inactive since a near-shut-out defeat to then-red-hot Paul Williams in April 2009, Wright is still the pre-fight favourite - even if that is based on his impossible-to-hit, iron-chinned (never stopped) style of old.

But is that still there at 39?

It would, based on age and inactivity, be foolish to write off Wright, despite having lost back-to-back fights (albeit against Paul Williams and Bernard Hopkins) and not scoring a win since 2006.

After all, he's mixed with the best, only lost to world-class opposition and brings to the table a 51-5-1 (25) paid ledger that has seen him cross swords with the elite since 1994, when Macklin was only 12.

Truth be told, he's probably forgotten more than Macklin knows.

And as much as the hammer-punching Second City scrapper has been in sparkling form as of late, Winky is on a different level to anyone he's faced since he made his pro bow in 2001.

Jumping from European level to world class is difficult at the best of times, but especially against a man who was in the top three pound-for-pound on earth at his pomp and who has held every recognised version of a world title.

But the 28-year-old, who hopes to secure a world title shot if he wins, is relishing it: "He's someone I've looked up to throughout my career but this is my time to make a big impact over there [in America] and this is the perfect fight to do that in.

"I know that it's a massive challenge, but one i know i can complete," added the 28-year-old Birmingham City supporter.

Booth leapfrogs Munroe to EBU shot

Jason Booth's reward for his hard-fought victory over Jamie Arthur earlier this month is a crack at the vacant European super-bantamweight title.

Nottingham's British and Commonwealth 8st 10lbs champion, who has come up short in three previous attempts to land the continental strap, will now meet iron-fisted Spaniard Kiko Martinez for the belt, probably in May.

Willie Casey relinquished his crown to meet Guillermo Rigondeaux for the Cuban's WBA interim title next month.

And two-time European king Martinez, who has only lost three times in 27 pro outings (17 inside), is perhaps best-remembered for his one-round blowout of future WBA champion Bernard Dunne in 2007, as well as his two points defeats to Booth's friend, Leicester's ex-EBU boss Rendall Munroe, with this belt on the line.

Interestingly, Munroe, who boxed unsuccessfully for the WBC title in Japan last year, has been overlooked for a straight shot at his old belt - a little-known rule means he would have had to won any fight to be in the mix - although will no doubt be in line to meet the winner.

An all-East Midlands showdown between two men who boxed for world titles last year would be mouth-watering.

But for hard-working Booth, 33 and 36-6 (15), he finally has a chance to annex a title that's alluded him three times in a up-and-down 15-year paid career that has seen him wear British, Commonwealth and IBO crowns.

All of those failed attempts have come on foreign shores - France (twice) and Spain - and promoter Frank Maloney will no doubt be delivering home advantage for the East Midlander, who hopes victory against the limited puncher from Madrid will secure him another shot at a recognised version of a world title.


"I'm already a bit excited for the chance and beating someone like the Spaniard, who has knocked out [Bernard] Dunne and lost to my mate Rendall Munroe, will do my position no harm," added the Tony Harris-trained box-fighter.

Once-promising Mitchell loses again

When i first saw Dee Mitchell box, against Welshman Chris Brophy on his paid bow in 2006, i was convinced the switch-hitting welterweight could challenge for top domestic honours as his professional career progressed.

That initial feeling was backed up as he breezed through his opening opponents, including reversing an unfortunate injury loss to Gatis Skuja, as well as scalping former British and Commonwealth title challenger Martin Concepcion, who had beaten him in a nip-and-tuck four-rounder previously.

However, the stocky Brummie, who looked as though he might fulfill that early promise after beating Concepcion, lost for the ninth consecutive time (and for the eleventh time in 12) on Monday night (February 21), going down over eight rounds (78-74) to returning Paul Burns, now 11-1-3 (1), in Scotland.

Jon Pegg-trained Mitchell, 34 and now 9-13 (2), is much better than his record suggests, durable and always provides decent arguments to those he's matched with on the road, which includes no fewer than five one-point defeats.

But this latest loss, against a man who i feel he could have beaten on the evidence of what i saw at the start, suggests he's now settled and comfortable with a career that sees him test prospects rather than regularly scalp them.

Another Midlander, Nuneaton's Kristian Laight, tasted defeat on the same show at Glasgow's Radisson Hotel. Kristian recently punched for pay for the hundredth time but was shut-out over six rounds by undefeated Arran McKelvie to see him lose for the 89th time.

Defeat for brave Harrison in Vegas

Dean Harrison's ambitious attempt to snap the undefeated record of touted Mike Alvarado ended in painful defeat on Saturday (February 19).

The 27-year-old Wolverhampton light-welter had been forced to scour the internet for a fight after being knocked back in several attempts to secure contests on British shores, including a rematch with Nigel Wright - who Harrison had decked in an unsuccessful English title challenge last year.

The hours of internet searching proved fruitful, however, and he got the chance to return to an American city (Las Vegas) where he'd been a hit four years ago.

Harrison, then unbeaten in nine, had stopped Ramon Guevara in five rounds at the MGM Grand the night before Floyd Mayweather demolished Ricky Hatton in 2007, and the Black Country boxer found himself a few blocks down the round, at the Mandalay Bay, to tackle Alvarado in 2011.

The mallet-fisted American, who now has a pro tab reading 29-0 (21) after his four-round retirement dismissal of the Midlander, is being maneuvered onto big things by powerful Top Rank, already scalping solid operators like Michael Clark, Cesar Bazan and Manuel Garnica.

And he wasted no time in cutting brave Lee Beard-trained Harrison, now 16-5 (5), down to size with an assortment of well-timed shots to both head and body, cutting the Englishman into the bargain. The one-sided contest was finally brought to a close when the ex-Midland Area champion was retired on his stool at the end of the fourth.

Harrison, who was set to box Frankie Gavin at the end of last year, will be hoping for a job closer to home next time out.

Gavin targets British title after latest stoppage

Frankie Gavin's latest victory could pave the way to a British 10st title shot before the summer.

The slippery Second City southpaw registered his ninth win in as many paid bouts (eight inside) with a cultured seventh-round stoppage over Prizefighter welterweight champion Michael Lomax at York Hall on Saturday (February 19).

Gavin was originally penciled in for an eight-rounder against ultra-durable Frenchman Mounir Guebbas but had been elevated to 12-round main event status after a last-minute injury to ex-training partner Tony Bellew, who'd been set to defend his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title for the first time.

A fight against former European lightweight boss Jason Cook was put forward as a new bill-topper, but Cook was rejected by the BBBofC due to worries about the Welshman making 10st at such late notice.

So in came Lomax, like the Brummie a right-leading fighter, and on paper it looked a difficult assignment.

The 32-year-old Essex stylist, as said, was a winner of the welterweight edition of Prizefighter, scalping former EBU champ Ted Bami along the way, and had only tasted defeat to championship-level fighters - Kell Brook (British title challenge, three), Bradley Pryce (points over eight) and current British and Commonwealth welterweight monarch Craig Watson (also on points over eight).

He had shown glimpses of quality - even if they were brief - in all three of those losses.

Against the fast-punching, fast-moving 2007 World Amateur Champion, however, he was never at the races.

Well-supported from Birmingham, Anthony Farnell-trained Gavin, 25, punished the Chingford boxer, now 17-4-1 (2), round after round until Lomax's corner had seen enough and threw the towel in with 18 seconds remaining of the seventh stanza.

Now Frankie has targeted ownership of the coveted Lonsdale Belt, won on the same night in the capital - albeit on a Hennessy Sports-promoted show in Wembley - by globe-trotting Ashley Theophane.

Whether Theophane, who is ranked highly by the IBF at welterweight and hinted after his unanimous 12-round decision over Lenny Daws that he may relinquish the belt he'd just won, would accept the high-risk-low-reward contest with Gavin remains to be seen.

But the Frank Warren-promoted Yardley prospect, due to box again in April, has indicated he'd seriously fancy the job against the Londoner or any of Britain's premier 140lb fighters given the chance.

"I've seen his (Theophane's) fights and he's a class act. But i'll beat him hands down if he steps up to the plate," added the Birmingham City supporter.

Booth returns to win column

Many would have forgiven Jason Booth if he'd have hung up his gloves after a close world title defeat to Canadian southpaw Steve Molitor in September.

After all, his outside-the-ring troubles are as well-documented as his in-ring exploits (a former alcoholic who sank as low as raiding bins to feed his thirst for alcohol).

But the hard-working, never-say-die Nottingham super-bantamweight still has lofty ambitions in the game and kept those on-track with a 12-round split decision over Jamie Arthur, the Commonwealth champion, in Essex on Saturday (February 5).

Smooth-boxing Booth retained his British 8st 10lbs title for the fourth time after a hard-fought scrap that saw Welshman Arthur, now 18-5 (4), boss the opening nine minutes of action with work done primarily off a sharp left-hand lead.

Yet the East Midlander, who only arrived at the Brentwood Leisure Centre, 25 minutes before he was set to step into the ring due to taking a wrong turn off the M25, found his feet as the 36-minute contest decended into a give-and-take scrap.

Both were sliced open in the fifth but it was the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist's cut in the seventh that gave iron-willed Strelley-based Booth, 33 and now 33-6 (15), the inspiration to do some of his best work.

Neither mans work was clean throughout but a solid right in the tenth made 31-year-old Arthur, Cwmbran and taller by almost six inches, cling on for survival.

Booth couldn't, however, deliver a grandstand finish and manged to convince two judges, Marcus McDonnell (117-112) and Ian John-Lewis (115-113), he'd done enough to add the Commonwealth strap to his collection.

Richie Davies sided with Arthur by a one-point margin, 115-114.

Arthur, who started life as a pro at lightweight, is hoping for a rematch and Booth, who started as a flyweight, is potentially in-line for a fight with another Midlands super-bantamweight who came up short in a world title challenge, Leicester's slick ex-European champion Rendall Munroe.

Dogged Munroe beats hounds

Not even a pack of blood-thirsty dogs can stop Rendall Munroe.

The stylish Leicester southpaw, 21-1 (9), challenges for the WBC super-bantamweight title against hammer-fisted Toshiaki Nishioka, also a right-leading fighter, in Tokyo next month and recently spent a week training in Portugal.

But 30-year-old Munroe had to contend with more than the thin air and mountainous terrain.

On one four-mile mountain run the former English, Commonwealth and European champion found himself being pursued by a local group of hounds.

But instead of deviating off track, Munroe - who is famous for being in possession of a great engine - stepped up the pace and left the pack trailing in his wake.

Promoter Frank Maloney, who joined the Midlands camp of Munroe and trainers Jason and Mike Shinfield for the week, said: "Nothing fazes him.

"Rendall didn't even show a hint of emotion on his face and kept running and running even though they were jumping all over the place behind him.

"It says a lot about him, because he finished the four miles almost a minute quicker than anyone else previously.

"I have never been involved with a fighter so single-minded," continued the London-based promoter," and he is unfazed by what awaits him [in Japan on October 24].

"Nishioka might have a good record [36 wins, four losses and three draws] and hit hard [23 inside-the-distance victories] but will never have met someone as talented as my man.

"Travelling to the other side of the world, to his opponent's back garden, won't effect his performance in the slightest."

Two out of three for Birmingham boxers at the LG

Going into their respective title fights on home territory on Saturday evening (September 18), Matthew Macklin, Frankie Gavin and Don Broadhurst were all expected to end the night as champions.

However, at the Second City's LG Arena, only two of the Brummies had a new title strapped around their waists.

That's because the third, 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Don Broadhurst, was upset over ten rounds by erratic if capable ex-Olympian Najah Ali, Canning Town-based but Iraq-born, for the vacant International Masters bantamweight belt.

Richie Davies marked Ali, 30, a 97-95 victor.

Although i had the close ten-rounder all-square at 95 apiece there were no complaints from me after a closely-fought battle between two skilled if light-punching stylists.

While the belt holds no real significance or prestige on the domestic scene Broadhurst was looking to return to the win column after surrendering his Commonwealth super-flyweight title in a messy unification fight with Naz-like Lee Haskins, the British champion, last December.

The 26-year-old Erdington stylist, now 11-2 (3), hadn't boxed since then. It showed.

And though Ali's pro ledger is patchy at 3-2 (1), it belies his talents.

His defeats have come against big-punching Michael Walsh (two-round stoppage against a man who's won all of his fights quickly) and a one-point defeat (58-57) to the current British flyweight king, Oldham southpaw Shinny Bayaar.

Though Broadhurst, a die-hard Aston Villa fan, was down about the loss he's vowed to return a better fighter and live up to the promise he showed after winning his first 11 professional contests.

There was, however, better news for the other fighting Brummies on Frank Warren's ambitious and well-received 'Magnificent Seven' card.

Originally, Birmingham City-supporting Matthew Macklin, 28, was due to meet Darren Barker in a excellent-looking all-British fight for Barker's British and EBU crowns.

However, the Barnet boxer's hip injury two weeks before the 12-rounder forced him out and the Solihull-based puncher regained the European middleweight title he never lost in the ring with a six-round stoppage win over iron-jawed and tight Shalva Jomardashvili.

The hard-as-nails Georgian, who entered with an impressive-looking 27-2-1 pro tab, was retired by his corner at the end of the sixth session.

Freddie Roach-trained Macklin, who had former trainer Joe Gallagher working his corner, had been in control throughout but lacked the sharpness that has made many talk of him as a future holder of a recognised world champion.

Now 27-2 (19) the hard-hitting Brummie called out IBF champion Sebastian Sylvester afterwards and hopes that can also take place in his home city.

Most impressive fighter on show from the Second City, Hall Green's former World Amateur champion Frankie Gavin, won his first professional title , the vacant Irish 10st belt, with a five-round stoppage victory over tough Dundalk scrapper Michael Kelly, eight wins in ten (one draw) entering.

Gavin, 8-0 (7), dominated the ten-rounder, cut the Irishman, and forced referee Emile Tiedt to call a halt to proceedings with a second left of the fifth.

Though the stoppage may have come a tad prematurely, there was never any doubt that smooth-boxing Gavin, who was accused of being a non-puncher prior to turning over, was on his way to a resounding win.

The 24-year-old Birmingham City supporter now looks ready to take on the best Britain has to offer.

Running order for 'Magnificent Seven' in Birmingham

Frank Warren has released the runnning order for the huge 'Magnificent Seven' card taking place at the LG Arena, Birmingham, on Saturday (September 18) - which is also being broadcast live on Sky Box Office from 18.00.

Fights involving Midlands interest are in bold; (c) denotes champion.

Fight 1 (17.15pm): Joe Selkirk, 4-0 (2), vs. TBA. 4x3.

Fight 2 (Floater): Ronnie Heffron, 2-0 (2), vs. Billy Smith (Worcester). 4x3.

Fight 3 (18.05pm): James Degale, 7-0 (5), vs. Carl Dilks, 14-2 (5). 10x3. British super-middleweight title eliminator.

Fight 4 (Follow on): Matthew Hall, 23-2 (16), vs. Lucas Konecny, 44-3 (21). 12x3. Vacant European light-middleweight title.

Fight 5 (Follow on): Nathan Cleverley, 19-0 (9), vs. Karo Murat, 22-0 (13). 12x3. WBO light-heavyweight title final eliminator.

Fight 6 (Follow on): (c) Kell Brook, 21-0 (14), vs. Michael Jennings, 36-2 (17). 12x3. WBO Intercontinental welterweight title.

Fight 7 (Follow on): Derek Chisora, 13-0 (8), vs. Sam Sexton, 13-1 (6). 12x3. British (Chisora) and Commonwealth (Sexton) heavyweight titles.

(Floater to be used before 22.00): Craig Evans, 1-0 (1), vs. Mickey Coveney, 10-11 (2). 4x3.

Fight 8 (22.00): (c) Enzo Maccarinelli, 32-4 (25), vs. Alexander Frenkel, 22-0 (17). 12x3. European cruiserweight title.

Fight 9 (Follow on): Matthew Macklin (Birmingham), 26-2 (18), vs. Shalva Jomardashvili, 27-2-1 (19). 12x3. Vacant European middleweight title.

Fight 10 (Follow on): Frankie Gavin (Birmingham), 7-0 (6), vs. Michael Kelly, 8-1-1 (2). 10x3. Vacant Irish light-welterweight title.

Fight 11 (Follow on): Don Broadhurst (Birmingham), 11-1 (3), vs. Najah Ali, 3-2 (1). 10x3. Vacant International Masters bantamweight title.

Booth targets European campaign

Jason Booth has set his sights on the European title next year.

The smooth-boxing Nottingham super-bantamweight lost a majority decision to Canadian lefty Steve Molitor in an attempt for the IBF 8st 10lb strap at the weekend, but is already planning a route back to a world title fight.

Booth, 32, boxed with credit in a fight that many expected him to be outclassed in.

He cut the champion in the third and was probably edging the contest by a couple of points after the halfway stage.

But Molitor, who'd only been defeated by long-limbed Celestino Caballero in 33 professional outings entering the 12-rounder, showed the resilience of a two-time IBF super-bantamweight boss to grind out a result in the final six rounds of the fight.

And now the gap-toothed Midlander has the EBU belt on his mind.

Although a three-time European super-flyweight title challenger, Booth has yet to annex a belt he has the ability to wear with distinction.

All three losses are said to be controversial, all occurring in the back yard of his opponents - France (twice) and Spain - but this crack would more than likely take place on British or Irish shores.

The champion, Spain's hard-hitting and capable Kiko Martinez, crosses swords with Limerick's ten-fight unbeaten but untested Prizefighter champion Willie Casey in November and Booth can expect to meet the winner.

And '2 Smooth' revealed that the continental strap is his new obsession: "I gave it a good go against Molitor but it wasn't enough to take the title back home with me on the night.

"Now i'd like to have a shot at a title i've been denied three times because of hometown decisions.

"I want that belt around my waist by next year and then we can see where the land lies regarding another shot at a world belt.

"Who knows, i may never get another shot?" reasoned the former British, Commonwealth and IBO king.

"I'm the mandatory for the European and i expect to be facing Martinez, as i think this has come to early for Casey, who is a good puncher.

"I'm already a bit excited for the chance and beating someone like the Spaniard, who has knocked out [future WBA champion Bernard] Dunne and lost to my mate Rendall Munroe [former EBU boss and who challenges for WBC title in Japan next month], will do my position no harm.

"I was expected to knock it on the head after [the loss to] Molitor, but i've got titles to win before that," added the Frank Maloney-promoted, Tony Harris-trained box-fighter, who battled through alcoholism to duel with the best again.

"No-one would have said i would have been in this position a few years ago so i'm not giving up on winning a world title."

Big night for Kevin and Martin Concepcion

October 16 is a make-or-break night for the Concepcions.

Middleweight Kevin (pictured) returns to six-round action against Frank Maloney-promoted prospect Tony Hill, while light-middleweight banger Martin challenges for the British 11st title against Sam Webb at Newham Leisure Centre, London.

And the Leicester brothers have points to prove.

Former British Masters middleweight champion Kevin, 30, was touted as a future claimant of the Lonsdale strap after racking up a tasty-looking 13-0 record.

But a two-round hammering by Yassine El Maachi in 2008, followed by a three-round cut defeat to current Commonwealth 160lb boss Martin Murray, who'd decked him, and a points loss to capable Brummie Tony Randell, Midland Area title, has seen the former can't-miss prospect fall to 15-3 (3).

His 18-minute scrap with Hampshire-based Hill, 5-1 (1), will tell us more about what the future has in store for the Neil Tomlinson-trained stylist.

Brick-fisted Martin, who himself ran up an early undefeated (11) pro ledger before being thumped to defeat in two rounds by a British-based import, looks to have his hands full with a skilled and tough champion who edged by enigmatic puncher Anthony Small to take the title in his last bout.

The 29-year-old Midland Area 11st king, 17-7 (10) went through a spell of six defeats in eight, albeit in decent company, but has won four of his last five (including a brace of one-points victories over Lincoln puncher Kevin Hammond in Midland title defences) to earn this shot at the Kent fighter.

Both Concepcion and Webb, 16-1 (4), have outpointed Birmingham's sometimes-dangerous but always-solid Max Maxwell.

Webb, 29, hit the deck before outpointing the ex-Area champion closely over eight; Martin looking a trifle fortunate to have his hand raised (96-95) after a testing ten for the vacant Midland belt last December.

They're two fights that the Concepcions can't afford to lose.

Froch forced out of October 2 duel

Carl Froch's Super Six clash with mallet-fisted Armenian puncher Arthur Abraham on October 2 has been postponed.

The 33-year-old Nottingham super-middleweight (pictured), who was set to meet the former IBF middleweight king in Monaco at the start of next month, has been struggling with a long-standing back problem and has been advised to take at least four weeks off training for the healing to take its course.

But it will come as a huge blow for ex-WBC champion Froch and those who were looking to make the autumn trip to the millionaires' playground.

A new date for the make-or-break clash between two men coming off defeats in their last bouts will be announced in the next week, with the re-arranged 12-rounder expected to take place in either November or December.

The victor will then advance to the final and cross swords with the man who emerges from the all-American WBA and WBC title fight between undefeated Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, who lost to Froch in the opening bout but who subsequently defeated Abraham in his second.

Brave Booth misses out on world title

Jason Booth's remarkable Cinderella story came to an end last night (September 11).

The Nottingham stylist, challenging for a recognised world belt for the first time in a 14-year career, lost a majority decision to IBF world super-bantamweight champion Steve Molitor after 12 absorbing and close rounds on a Frank Maloney (FTM)-promoted show at the Rainton Meadows Area, Houghton-le-Spring.

While Canadian Pasquale Procopio couldn't split the pair at 114 apiece, the other judges - Marcus McDonnell, England, and Alfred Asaro, France - marked the bout 116-113 and 116-112 to the self-styled 'Canadian Kid'.

For what it's worth, i had the champion retaining his crown by the same 116-113 margin as McDonnell.

But smooth-boxing Booth, who looked as nervous in the moments leading up to the fight as i'd seen him in his previous 40 professional outings, can be proud of a performance that saw him push the southpaw all the way.

Jason's out-of-the-ring exploits are well-known - a recovering alcoholic who once was smashed over the head with an iron bar before a fight in 2001 - but proved he belonged with the world elite with a gritty showing.

For me, the 32-year-old East Midlands challenger, who sliced open Molitor in the third, was in a commanding position going into the half-way stage of the 36-minute bout - leading by two points after six.

It looked feasible that the red International Boxing Federation belt was going to ripped away from the slim waist of the 8st 10lbs boss.

But Molitor, 30 and a notoriously slow-starting type, gradually began to find his feet and didn't look back.

Upping his work-rate in the seventh, the now-33-1 (12) two-time world champion unleashed a superb volley of punches to send the slick ex-British, Commonwealth and IBO title-holder on his heels.

Cheered on by younger brother Nicky, who was dropped and outpointed by the same Canadian lefty for the Commonwealth bantamweight strap in 2002, Booth tried to force the action, even turning southpaw, in rounds eight and nine, but the taller Mississauga-based boxer matched him - ripping in uppercuts and body shots to snatch the rounds.

While it's evident Molitor isn't the same fighter who dismantled Michael Hunter on British shores four years ago, he seemed to be a move ahead in the final nine minutes, countering the Strelley-based fighter's high work-rate, excellent foot work and second wind with better-quality and more accurate punches.

At the final bell the solid scrapper known as '2 Smooth' knew, deep down, he hadn't done enough.

Gracious in defeat, Booth, now 36-6 (15), told Sky Sports afterwards : "It [the decision] was a fair one.

"He's a strong lad and i felt his strength as he came in.

"His extra power was stealing the rounds at the end but i gave it my all."

As classy outside the ropes as he is inside them, Molitor was impressed with his English challenger: "He didn't hit hard, but was creative and fast in there tonight.

"This man fought his heart out, but i thought i won it down the stretch," he added.

"It was a great fight and Jason Booth has nothing to be ashamed of with that performance tonight."

And it doesn't look as if this is the end for the gap-toothed three-time European title challenger.

Booth has indicated he's going to fight on and should another Midlander, Leicester's Rendall Munroe, win his WBC super-bantamweight title fight with Toshiaki Nishioka in Japan next month, an all-Midlands world title fight with his close friend may be on the cards.

A fight with Kiko Martinez, the dangerous 24-year-old Spanish puncher who won the vacant European title on the same night in Ireland, is another avenue that could be explored.

Martinez holds a first-round stoppage win over then-European champion Bernard Dunne, who would rebound to capture the WBA world super-bantamweight title two years later, as well as giving the aformentioned Munroe two decent tussles with the EBU belt at stake.

Booth can, on the evidence of last night's showing, come again.

Defeats for Midlands pair on Hennessy show

Have-a-go Birmingham welterweight Andrew Patterson and Walsall super-middle Matty Hough both tasted defeat in London last night (September 10).

Second City trier Patterson (pictured) lost out on points (40-36) to Phill Fury, cousin of heavyweight Tyson, who won an eight-round decision over American Rich Power on the same show at York Hall, while Hough was taken out in the opening session by recent Prizefighter competitor Daniel Cadman.

Manchester-based Fury, now 6-0 (1), couldn't hurt the Brummie at any stage of the 12-minute bout but slowly racked up the points to hand the Jon Pegg-trained fighter, 30, his eleventh defeat as a professional.

Hough, 7-5-1 (1) and returning to action for the first time since retiring to Majorca two years ago, couldn't boast the same thing.

The 33-year-old former Midland Area and British Masters title challenger was brutally swatted aside with 30 seconds remaining of the first round by Essex's Cadman, who improves to 13-5 (4), and his future as a paid fighter now remains in doubt.

Once touted as a solid prospect after winning his first five, the Errol Johnson-trained scrapper has come up short in two title challenges and is seemingly too vulnerable to make a decent living as a journeyman, having being halted in all of his defeats.

In the main event Rob McCracken-trained Shepherd's Bush welter John O'Donnell scored a career-best victory, winning a 12-round nod over 1996 Olympic bronze medallist Terence Cauthen. Ken Curtis marked it 118-112 to the former Commonwealth 147lb boss.

Molitor-Booth preview: the fairy tale to end for Jason?

If you'd told Jason Booth five years ago that, in 2010, he'd be fighting for a recognised version of a world title, he'd have looked at you, laughed and continued on with a life that was spiralling dangerously out of control.

The Nottingham super-bantamweight was, circa 2005, at his lowest ebb - begging for money in the East Midlands to feed his alcoholic binges.

But trainer Tony Harris saw him, got him back on the straight and narrow and here we are on the eve of the reformed alcoholic's biggest night - and there is a feeling he may be capable of pulling off a huge upset.

In order to live out that dream, however, he's going to have to rip the IBF 8st 10lbs world title from the cultured fists of Canada's Steve Molitor, at the Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, tomorrow (Saturday, September 11).

That's no easy task.

Molitor (pictured), now a two-time IBF super-bantam boss, has a fine repertoire of punches, a solid chin and a professional ledger that reads only one defeat (in a WBA/IBF unification fight with tall, long-limbed banger Celestino Caballero, four rounds, 2008) in 33.

For all Booth's grit, heart, determination and solid skills, he's only really been tested on domestic and European levels.

And if you take the former two-time British and Commonwealth champion's record on face value, 35 wins in 40 (15 inside), then he has always fallen short on the step up to European class as well, having lost in three tilts at the European flyweight title.

However, all three were controversial decisions in the back yards, France (twice) and Spain, of the men he was fighting.

And since his return from a two-year hiatus in 2006 Booth has won ten (solitary stain being against flash and slippery Ian Napa, who Booth had previously outscored) of eleven, as well as picking up the Commonwealth title at bantamweight, and British and Commonwealth titles at the weight above.

To southpaw Molitor, who many feel may be on the slide after a ten-year career that has seen plenty of hard fights.

Although he's boxed mainly in North America, he's no stranger to these shores, having outpointed Jason's younger brother, ex-Lonsdale belt-holder Nicky, for the Commonwealth belt in 2002 - and then savagely dismantled a common foe, Michael Hunter, for the vacant International Boxing Federation strap in Hartlepool in 2006 (five rounds).

Five successful defences, all against top-level opponents, followed before being battered to defeat by Caballero. He rebounded with three victories of varying quality and took the vacant belt in March with a unanimous, albeit close-ish, verdict over old foe Takalani Ndlovu, who he'd stopped in a title defence three years earlier.

Is that an indication that the 30-year-old isn't the formidable box-fighter he once was?

Booth, who put in, for me, a career-best showing against Hunter late last year, looked easy-to-hit and sluggish in a eleven-round cut victory over slick but non-punching Matthew Marsh in his last fight.

A performance like that against the clean-living champion and it's likely to be curtains.

Many have used Ricky Burns' WBO world title-winning effort against betting favourite Roman Martinez last weekend as a blueprint and inspiration for the battle-scared if talented 32-year-old ex-IBO super-flweight king to follow ahead of his career-hardest 12-rounder tomorrow.

But hard-hitting Martinez appeared to be a one-dimensional puncher, despite a solid amateur pedigree, who was telegraphing his punches throughout the 36-minute bout in Scotland.

Molitor, based on previous visits to these shores, has a lot more to him than that (can box on the outside before stepping in and fighting on the inside, and hits to the body well; has variation and decent hand speed) and i feel the fairy tale that Booth has been writing for himself will finally come to an end.

Look for the champion to make a successful maiden defence of his belt on points, possibly a late stoppage, having had to fend off a spirited and gallant early charge by the affable, gap-toothed Midlander.