McPhilbin crushes unbeaten Chocolate Warrior to take Midland title

Shane 'Mr Block' McPhilbin had guaranteed he'd knock Rhys Davies' block off with his locally-famed BBGs (Bulwell Big Guns) in the lead-up to their East vs West Midlands ten-rounder for the vacant Midland Area cruiserweight title on Saturday (June 25).

And the slimmed-down Nottingham puncher proved his word is his bond by decking and halting the unbeaten Coventry stylist, on a Les Allen-promoted show at a packed Bedworth Civic Hall, to register a shock third-round stoppage.

Ex-international amateur Davies, whose twin brother - flashy super-middleweight stylist Llewy - won a shut-out six-round win on the undercard, had built a promising-looking 5-0-1 paid tab (one early win) and was, to those in the trade, a slight pre-fight favourite to procure the first belt of his three-year professional career.

But iron-jawed Shane, 25, who competed at heavyweight in his opening seven pro contests (including a semi-final appearance against Michael Sprott in Prizefighter), was himself a top-rated amateur who reached an ABA semi and extended hammer-fisted Tyson Fury - challenging for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight crowns later next month - in the vest.

On top of durability, he's willing, capable and carries a sizeable dig in his 10oz gloves. And the Bulwell-based banger took the fight to a taller, well-conditioned opponent from the off. 

Though the opening six minutes proved a scrappy affair with little in the way of clean, crisp punching, it was probably the local man who edged the sessions with the neater (if only by a little) work.

Yet McPhilbin, after a ticking off from trainer Carl Greaves between the second and third stanzas, came out for the next three minutes with added spice in his shots. The round was barely a minute old when a heavy-looking right forced Davies on his heels - and hunter-like Shane's two-handed follow-up sent the 27-year-old Oliver Harrison-trained stylist crashing down to earth with a bang.

Referee John Keane saw the self-styled 'Chocolate Warrior' jump straight up, albeit too quickly and noticeably unsteadily on his feet, and called halt to the action with 90 seconds gone of the third. Despite Davies' protestations, it was the right call and cued wild celebrations from the East Midlands camp and the new Midland champion, now 6-2 (4) and tipping the scales at a career-lowest 14st 3lbs.

Trainer Greaves, a former British title challenger and Midland Area boss, hinted at his charge's future. The Newark trainer/promoter said: "Shane could make the first defence of his title in September or October - and i'm looking at venues in Nottingham for that.

"It's too soon to be talking about fighting [British champion Rob] Norton but the English title [held by former European champion Terry Dunstan] could be an option before the end of 2011," he added.

Photos by Colin Messer.

Miles continues stoppage run; weekend round-up

Undefeated East Midlander Dale Miles continues to win - and continues to make durable men fall.

The 26-year-old Alfreton portsider was looking to impress former world champion Ricky Hatton at Wigan's Robin Park Arena on Saturday night (June 18) and did just that with a one-sided four-round retirement dismissal over iron-jawed Ibrar Riyaz.

Derbyshire-based but Nottingham-born Miles, who is on a stoppage run of six, won for the eleventh time in as many paid outings (eight via the quick route) and had his Reading-based opponent on the floor in the opening three minutes.

Though he clambered to his feet, 28-bout Riyaz - whose only inside-the-distance reversal arrived at the fists of current Commonwealth super-featherweight boss Liam Walsh last year - was punished for another nine minutes until his corner pulled him out, wisely, at the end of the fourth of a set six.

Shinfield-handled Miles looks set to give Britain's best 10'7 fighters a good argument in the future.

Another Midlander, ambitious Black Country stylist Chris Male, impressed on the Hatton Promotions-promoted, Sky Sports-televised bill in the North West - forcing recent International Masters title challenger Dougie Curran to surrender on his stool after three rounds.

Gallant Geordie Curran, now 5-7-1, recently extended touted Tipton puncher Lee Glover the full ten but never looked like repeating a distance battle with ex-Masters boss Male, now 11-0 (2) and on a run of two successive quick wins. Dougie tried but was brutalised for the three rounds it lasted and Chris, a postman by day but puncher by night, competently delivered. He is now likely to be tied to a promotional contract with the Hattons.

The Cradley featherweight is also chasing a fight with another unbeaten prospect, ex-Olympian Joe Murray, who also won on the card, for the vacant English 9st strap. It would be a fascinating battle.

Derby's Steve Jevons, now 6-0, came out the victor in an all-Midlands four-rounder with Birmingham's tough and willing Jason Nesbitt, in paid outing 143. Jevons showed he was the better-rounded fighter, picking off Nesbitt with his jab and running out a routine 39-37 winner.

In London on the same night, on a good-value Spencer Fearon-promoted show at the York Hall, Derby's Dave 'Rocky' Ryan added the British Masters light-welterweight crown to his Midland Area belt with a one-round disqualification victory over Bristol puncher Darren Hamilton, now 8-2 (2). Honours appeared to be even in the early going until confident Hamilton, in the opinion of referee Ken Curtis at least, laid the nut on the hard-punching East Midlander, 12-4 (3), leaving the fight over but not resolved after only 112 seconds.

But there was a points defeat for hard Newark scrapper A.A Lowe, who conceded an eight-round nod against skillful Londonder Steve O'Meara. Lowe lost for the sixth time in 14 (eight wins, one early) but showed trademark resilience to stick to the task in hand and see out the 24-minute fight with a fighter who was one step ahead.

Maughan's early morning runs pay off

Terry Maughan didn't let a little thing like a last-minute change of opponent and a four-pound weight disadvantage spoil his plans.

The Nottingham light-middleweight was penciled in to box sturdy Londoner Duncan Cottier in his home city, at the Britannia Hotel on Maid Marian Way, on Saturday night (June 18). But instead of the crafty Chingford hardman, he swapped leather with another hard-nosed fighter with no less of a chin - Chris Brophy.

In pro fight 53, Swansea-based Brophy has mixed with the likes of Michael Gomez, current British light-welterweight champion Ashley  Theophane and British middleweight title challenger Nick Blackwell, who boxed for the Lonsdale Belt on the same night in Wigan, and immediately came out firing with left hooks. 

But improving Maughan, who has won his last three and five of his last six, used his feet well to avoid desperation punches from the canny veteran and rattle in solid replies of his own on a four-bout Matt Scriven-promoted bill that saw all the locals on show leave without defeat.

And it was Terry's speed that proved too much of a barrier for an older (32), heavier (11st 6 1/4lbs to 11st 2lbs) fighter who was always a step behind.

Referee Rob Chalmers rightly marked the six-twos 60-55 in favour of the 26-year-old local,  and the Sneinton scrapper's new fitness regime - which included early morning sprints up hills on top of his normal roadwork - reaped immediate rewards.

"I felt good on Saturday," admitted a three-time British kick-boxing champion whose paid tab now reads 5-2 (one of the defeats, on his debut, was to promoter Scriven, incidentally). "I felt strong and fresh at the end, which is testament to how hard I've been training - both in and out of the gym.

"To tell the truth, i hated those hill sprints but they've had an positive effect and i won't be dropping them from my schedule any time soon.

"Brophy knew his way around a ring and Tony [Harris, trainer] told me constantly to watch out for his left. I could see every single one he threw and then, when i switched off briefly in the fourth, he caught me," he laughed. "But it didn't have any effect and i was pleased with a good six rounds under my belt.

"It's onwards and upwards and i know i can get better."

Someones 0 has to go when Al Harbi battles Byrne

Undefeated Second City stylist Nasser Al Harbi has been handed a tough-looking test on his debut for new promoter Frank Warren.

The skillful, fast-handed and measured light-middleweight, who has a blemish-free 11-fight professional tab (one inside), meets Dublin-based destroyer Dean Byrne, 14-0 (6), at London's ExCel Arena on July 9 with the winner being pushed towards a crack at a domestic strap.

Al Harbi won a developmental WBC belt in December, handing Dennapa Bigshotcamp a seven-round beating in the exotic climbs of Dubai, and has plenty of confidence. That was the Birmingham fighter's first stoppage but his previous paid outings had displayed his crafty footwork, handspeed and ability to control matters at range and inside.

But in Byrne, 26, he meets a globe-trotting banger who spent a time training with sought-after Manny Pacquiao handler Freddie Roach in America. The Irishman started his career in Australia, picking up their national 10st title, but has also boxed in the US and has had his last two in his Emerald Isle home.

To many outside of the hardcore boxing circle,  however, both are unknown warriors with decent-looking records. But having seen Nasser box in the flesh on several occasions, he is the real deal. 

Trained by father Naji after starting with former WBC world champion Richie Woodhall, the 21-year-old has answered every question asked of him thus far, outpointing former Midland Area champions Kevin McCauley and Matt Scriven with plenty to spare. He also ended the unbeaten run of Llloyd Creighton and dominated willing Eastern European import Arek Malek.

As the old boxing adage goes, one of these fighters '0' has to go. But many in the Midlands will be confident that Al Harbi's will be the one that stays.

Jonjo avenges Elvis defeat but first loss for Parker

Burton favourite Jonjo Finnegan is not a huge Elvis fan but had promised he'd send the King of  Rock 'n' Roll's  namesake, Derby-based Elvis Dube, to the Heartbreak Hotel when they met in their six-round rematch on Monday night (June 13).

And true to his word, on a Pat Cowdell-promoted show at Birmingham's Holiday Inn, Finnegan boxed his way to a 58-57 12-minute  points win over a chunky, heavy-handed banger who'd shockingly dropped and stopped the former Irish light-heavyweight title challenger when they'd met at the same venue in Febraury.

Finnegan had controlled five rounds of that fight before walking onto a series of heavy shots from Shinfield-handled Dube. Despite looking as though he could have carried on after hauling himself up on that night, the reigning British Masters super-middleweight champion's future was called into question.

He admitted if he hadn't of beaten Elvis, now with three wins (two via stoppage) in 12 paid outings that has seen his swap leather with several top-quality prospects, this time around then he would have probably ended his involvement in a sport that he has served since a 12-year-old boy.

Now the 31-year-old, who looked a handier winner than  referee Terry O'Connor's scorecard  might suggest and who boxed neatly at range for the majority of the contest, can look forward to a rubber match in September, with both the Masters and the vacant Midland Area 12st belts at stake.

He said: "I had a game plan and i stuck to it throughout. I think i showed the person i am to get back into the ring a few months after he had stopped me.

"But i would have quit had he beat me again," Errol Johnson-trained Finnegan, now 14-6-3, candidly confessed. "Yet i showed him the way home and we could fight again in Burton in September for the Area belt."

But there was disaster for another Johnson-trained Burton boxer, light-middleweight stylist Duane Parker, who had his unbeaten record snapped in pro fight 14 by fired-up Hull scrapper Richard Troupe.

Tall, measured Parker was set to box for the vacant Midland Area 11st title in September but will have to go back to the drawing board after being decked and stopped by a man who had only won one of his previous six going into their scheduled eight-twos.

Referee O'Connor called an immediate halt to the fight with a second remaining of the fourth after the well-supported 23-year-old was felled by a bone-crunching left. He'd already hit the canvas in the second and Troupe, seven years older than Parker at 30, had made his five-pound (11'5) weight advantage show.

But Duane looked to have put rounds in the bank in between the knockdown and claimed he could of continued, admitting: "He caught me with a good shot but i know, given the chance, i could of carried on and got on top.

"I'd love the rematch so, like Jonjo, i can set the record straight."

Sedgley light-middle Tom Bowen won his second fight in a week to take his record to 3-1, outpointing (59-56 for O'Connor) winless but willing Earls Court-based African Bheki Moyo. The 22-year-old avenged an earlier points defeat to Scotsman Scott Ross last week and  looked in command throughout. Moyo may have a record that now shows 29 defeats in 30  (a solitary draw with Martin Gordon halting the run of reversals) but he's durable and gave the Black Country boxer something to think about.

It was a six-twos.

Midlands trio looking to impress Ricky Hatton

Three blemish-free Midlands-based fighters are looking to get Ricky Hatton's seal of approval on Saturday night (June 18).

Alfreton lefty Dale Miles (pictured), Cradley featherweight Chris Male and debuting Leicester welter Junior Thompson all see action at Wigan's Robin Park Centre, forming part of a Sky Sports-televised undercard that see's local middleweight, undefeated Commonwealth boss Martin Murray, challenging for the vacant British title against Nick Blackwell.

Shinfield-handled Miles, 10-0 (7), is tipped for big things after winning the British Masters welterweight title with a frightening seven-round KO over then-10-fight unbeaten Rob Kenney. 

And since flattening the Wolverhampton fighter in 2009, the 26-year-old Mansfield-born banger, whose six-round opponent has yet to be named, has stopped his last four - three of them failing to see the end of the second round. He's aware that a quality showing will lead to future backing from the Hattons and possible shots at domestic crowns.

Another ten-bout (one inside) unbeaten pro, British Masters featherweight monarch Male, does have named opposition on the Hatton Promotions-promoted bill - and a potential opponent lined up for his next fight.

The 28-year-old West Midlander, a postman by day and puncher by night, swaps leather with former Welsh champion Dai Davies over a tricky-looking six and is then penciled in to settle an argument with Joe Murray, the former World Amateur bronze medalist and undefeated paid stylist who boxes for the IBF Youth featherweight belt on the same card.

And Male, who impressively won his last fight inside a round, said: "He [Murray, 10-0 (5) and brother of European lightweight boss John] is a quality fighter but these are the men i need to beat if i want to win the British title.

"I think i can beat him and he'll have to do a lot to change my mind," boasted Chris of a potential fight that's likely to be for the English 9st belt - providing both men win on Saturday night.

Leicester's Thompson has a baptism of fire against heavy-handed Blackpool bruiser Adam Little, 2-0 (1), over four rounds. A former top-rated unpaid fighter who reached a National Schoolboy final in 2001, Junior will be supported in the North West by friend and world-rated same-city stylist Rendall Munroe, who is promoted by Hatton Promotions.

Gavin: "Woodhouse couldn't make it at Blues and he won't as a boxer."

Fervent Birmingham City supporter Frankie Gavin has won the first round in a war of words with his next opponent, Curtis Woodhouse - labeling the former Blues player "rubbish".

Gavin dominated former British welterweight champion Young Mutley over 12 rounds last month and it could be argued that his interesting-looking scrap with Woodhouse, at Liverpool's Echo Arena on July 16, is a step down.

But the 31-year-old former England under-21 international footballer, who joined the St Andrews side for £1m in 2001, is solid, fairy tough, willing, carries a decent dig and is eager to close the mouth of Britain's only-ever World Amateur gold medalist.

The East Yorkshire scrapper is no stranger to the Midlands as a fighter either, having knocked out West Brom southpaw Wayne Downing with a body shot inside a round at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, in 2008 - as well as stopping dangerous former Midland Area champion Dean Hickman in a toe-to-toe war in 2009.

That said, he'll never have met anyone as sharp, quick and accurate as the Second City southpaw, who's won all ten of his paid outings (eight quickly). Aside from a one-sided taming of Mutley, for the WBO Intercontinental strap he'll defend for the first time in Liverpool, Gavin halted ex-Prizefighter champion Michael Lomax, cut up Irishman Michael Kelly in five and won every round of a six against a man who'd go on to beat Woodhouse.

Irish-born Peter McDonagh was picked off at will against Anthony Farnell-trained Frankie last year. Eight months later, however, Woodhouse, 15-2 (10), was old-man'd in an eight-rounder with the same fighter - slumping to a one-point defeat (77-76) that looked (for me at least) generous to the loser.

Smooth-boxing Gavin won the 2006 Commonwealth Games and holds victories over world-class pro pair Selcuk Aydin and Lenny Zappavigna as an amateur and said: "He's rubbish. He will fall over his own feet and his technique is terrible. He is not in the same class as me and that will be clearly shown next month.

"Woodhouse has been saying that he'll be in front of me all night but that's not right because he won't last the distance. He's also been saying that he'll knock me out and i can't punch but he'll see what i can do.

"He couldn't make it as a footballer at Birmingham City and he certainly won't make it as a boxer," added the Brummie, 25, coldly.

Jonjo planning to book Elvis into Heartbreak Hotel

Jonjo Finnegan has promised he'll send Elvis (Dube) to the Heartbreak Hotel in Birmingham on Monday night (June 13).

The British Masters super-middleweight champion from Burton-on-Trent shockingly slumped to a five-round stoppage defeat at the fists of the stocky Shinfield-handled puncher in February but gets the chance to settle the score at the same venue, the Holiday Inn, on a Pat Cowdell show next week.

Finnegan, 13-6-3, had been unbeaten since 2008 and seemed to have put five sessions in the bag when they met in their six-rounder earlier in the year, tattooing his chunky opponent with accurate threes and fours.

But a series of clubbing rights from Derby-based Dube, who had only won one of his previous seven entering, sensationally sent Jonjo tumbling to the canvas and though he beat the count and appeared able to continue, referee Shaun Messer waived it off.

It ruined the former Irish light-heavyweight title challenger's immediate career plans but a victory in the rematch, again over six, with a heavy-handed scrapper who has gone on to beat capable Rhyl banger Justin Jones could set up the first defence of the Masters title he won against Dean Walker last October.

"It was a pathetic stoppage because i was up at six, ready to carry on fighting and my eyes were clear," reasoned a 31-year-old ex-Burton ABC favourite who reached the ABA quarters in the vest and headguard.

"I pestered Errol [Johnson, trainer and manager] as soon as i left the ring to get me the rematch and he has. It was the only fight i was interested in and until i settle the score he's the only fighter on my mind.

"He won't win a round against me this time. He wasn't winning a single minute of any round last time out until he caught me. That's boxing.

"But i'm going to box his head off," he roared," and then i can look forward to defending my title for the first time at the Meadowide [Leisure Centre, Burton] in September."

Parker can't afford to slip up now

Duane Parker has been promised a title shot in his home town in September - providing he doesn't slip up in Birmingham next week (Monday, June 13).

The undefeated Derbyshire light-middleweight travels to the Second City for the fifth time in his last six with the knowledge that taming durable Hull scrapper Richard Troupe will lead to his first crack at a professional belt.

Seven years older than 23-year-old Parker, Troupe is no mug. He's yet to have been halted early in six paid outings and pushed decent Johnny Musgrave to the wire over four punishing sessions less than two months ago.

But the face-first scrapper travels to the Midlands for the first time to cross swords over eight with a tall, measured ex-Burton ABC favourite who has dropped only nine rounds out of a possible 74 since turning over in 2007 and is sitting down on his punches more in recent outings.

And with talk that current Area champion, unbeaten Coseley southpaw Jamie Ball, is set to relinquish his belt to box for the English 11st crown, the blonde-haired East Midlands stylist knows victory over the East Yorkshire war-horse is essential if he's to achieve his ambition of winning a belt before the end of 2011.

"It's a fight i know I've got to win," admitted improving Parker, 13-0, who put in a career-best showing to outpoint dangerous and willing Leicester banger Simon Fleck at the same venue (Holiday Inn) in February.

"Errol [Johnson, trainer and manager] has said that i'll box for the Midland Area title in September if i win and that's a massive incentive for me. On top of that, it will be at the [Meadowside] Leisure Centre in Burton.

"It's all set up for me if i win and it'll all fall down for me if i lose. But i'm confident and win is exactly what i'll do," he confidently predicted.

Forgotten Amar returns on June 25

Adnan Amar has finally landed himself a fight.

The tall, fast-handed English welterweight champion from Nottingham (pictured in his Midland Area title-winning effort against Darren Gethin in 2007) has been out of action since taking care of then-streaking Tom Glover at the Trent FM Arena in October 2009.

Capable and awkward with venom in his cultured shots, the Ingle-trained puncher has seen several bouts fall through since then but returns to competitive action on the undercard of Kell Brook's toughest-looking test to date - a 12-rounder with former IBF world champion Lovemore N'Dou at Sheffield's Hillsborough Leisure Centre.

Though an opponent has yet to be finalised for the ex-Midland Area and British Masters boss' return on the Matchroom-promoted show on June 25, Amar, 23-1 (7), will just be glad to have a date penciled firmly in. 

The 28-year-old has scandalously been overlooked for a shot at the British and Commonwealth 10st 7lbs crowns on several occasions despite resounding wins over then-ten-fight undefeated Mark Lloyd in 2008 (for the vacant English strap), the said five-round retirement dismissal of Glover 19 months ago and, possibly most impressive of them all, a three-round blowout of capable Canadian Ian MacKillop in 2008.

However, despite being called out by Blackburn's unbeaten Ali Shah, who used to train with Adnan at the famed Ingle gym in Sheffield, his aims will be much higher and his appearance on the Sky Sports-televised card could finally lead to a meaningful title outing.

It's a marathon and a (hill) sprint for Maughan

Don't be alarmed if you're from Nottingham and wake up to see a man sprinting up a hill - it's only Terry Maughan.

The ambitious light-middleweight boxes in his home city on June 18 - at the Britannia Hotel on Maid Marian Way - and is training harder-than-ever to turn away the argument of a gritty Londoner who will be engaging in his 70th professional battle.

That opponent, durable Duncan Cottier, has taken on no fewer than 43 undefeated prospects in a six-year career that has also seen him swap leather with the likes of former British monarch Kell Brook, ex-European boss Paul McCloskey and a brace of current and previous Commonwealth champions - Denton Vassell and Willie Limond.

Hammer-fisted Brook managed to halt him but, aside from that, only four others have and Sneinton-based Maughan, who lost his debut but has won four of his last five, is likely to have a tricky distance battle on his hands.

Though Terry's boxed 22 rounds as a pro and outpointed solid operators like Ryan Clark and West Brom southpaw Wayne Downing, Cottier has completed 292 more stanzas in higher company. This, coupled with the fact he's eager to have the engine to go ten and 12 rounds in future title attempts, convinced the three-time ex-British kick-boxing champion he needed to step up the intensity of his training.

The 26-year-old never boxed as an amateur but compiled a five-fight unbeaten tab as a unlicensed scrapper and said: "The training with Tony [Harris, trainer] has been, as usual, good and i feel sharp and ready. This time, tough, there has been an added element with the hill sprints.

"That said, i don't like them and who would?" laughed the Irish-rooted fighter. "I don't want be running up steep hills on top of my normal road work and training. But i'll do whatever it takes and it'll increase my stamina, which is vital for my future development as a fighter. 

"And though i don't know too much about Cottier, i'm looking forward to boxing in Nottingham again," said an East Midlander who boxes on a show promoted by a man - Mansfield's former Midland Area champion Matt Scriven - who beat him on his pro bow in 2009. "I won't have far to travel either as i can get from my house to the venue in about ten minutes.

"But all jokes aside, i've got massive ambitions and i need to keep them on track with a win," he added.

Disjointed Froch secures Super Six final berth

Carl Froch proved yet again that it's not how you start - but how you finish.

Nottingham's WBC world super-middleweight champion made the second successful defence of his title in his second reign as champion, earning a hard-fought majority decision over Miami-based Jamaican Glen Johnson at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, last night (June 4).

British judge Mark Green saw the self-styled 'Cobra' a 116-112 victor, American John Stewart had it wider at 117-111 but Japanese judge Nobuaki Uratani - in a bizzare piece of scoring for me - marked the 12-rounder level at 114 apiece.

For what it's worth, i had Froch a handy 117-113 winner.

But possibly more important than retaining the sought-after green belt, he will now meet undefeated WBA champion Andre Ward, watching on from ringside, in the Super Six final later in the year - with the right for the triumphant fighter to call himself the premier 12st fighter on the planet.

Will smooth-boxing Ward, who expected the younger man to win in the lead-up to the fight, be worried after seeing Froch disjointedly dispose of Johnson? It's doubtful. But the 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist seems an un-worried type of fighter who gives every opponent he's set to meet the maximum amount of respect.

Talking of respect, Johnson seemed to be receiving too much of that in the first 12 minutes of the absorbing 36-minute contest.

And despite pre-fight worries about how easily the 42-year-old former IBF light-heavyweight king made the 12st limit after a decade competing seven pounds north - he tipped the scales at 11st 12 1/2lbs - it was the East Midlander who looked the weaker of the two in the opening three sessions.

Yet we've come to expect loose Froch, trained by Birmingham's former British champion Rob McCraken, to roar back after a slow-ish start. Against another American, Jermain Taylor, he had to haul himself off the floor in the third before storming back and flatening the former undisputed middleweight king in the final stanza of their heart-stopping scrap in 2009.

Impressively-sculpted veteran Johnson, who has only been stopped by all-time great Bernard Hopkins in a 18-year, 68-fight career that has seen him swap leather with the cream of both the 168 and 175lbs divisions, didn't deck his opponent but ploughed forward (gloves pressed firmly against his temples) in the early stages - pumping, not to mention grunting, out a firm lead and accurate back hand.

And due to the familiar and lax nature of the 33-year-old's defence, hands low in order to whip his punches up through Johnson's guard in a Cobra-like fashion, his head was sent snapping back several times by solid right hands from a fired-up Jamaican who's ended 35 of his 51 wins early. 

Froch did seem rattled on occasions but is renowned for an iron chin, adjusted his game-plan by the half-way stage, and started to put his punches together nicely.

Though he never really asserted any real dominance over Johnson - too many single shots and too much time waiting for the Roy Jones Jr conquerer to make the first move in the first three-quarters of the bout - he found plenty of hurtful, ripping right-hand punches that convinced his opponent not to make more of an argument over matters as the bout progressed.

In the final two sessions the 'Road Warrior', who has been on the short thrift of several questionable decisions in his 15 losses, looked weary - having his legs stiffened by whipping right uppercuts as he continued to march in with his gloves, as ever, held high like ear muffs. 

And though Glen isn't afraid to be vocal if he feels he has been on the end of a bad decision, he didn't celebrate at the final bell or debate the verdict afterwards. A classy move from a classy boxer who is hard to look good against and proved that his career isn't at an end just yet.

"He can fight," said the magnanimous loser.

"It was very tough," admitted Froch, now 28-1 (20), whose only paid defeat was to a man who returned with an impressive six-round destruction in Denmark on the same night, Mikkel Kessler. "I hit him and nothing happened.

"I said beforehand it would be like hitting an old Oak tree and it was. He was definitely one of the toughest I've faced," paying coconut-skulled Johnson a well-deserved compliment. "But i was stuck in second gear for a lot of the fight, looking to pick him off, and i got caught with some silly shots. I was a bit cumbersome."

But it would be criminal not to mention the combined record of Froch's last seven opponents (Albert Rybacki; Jean Pascal; Jermain Taylor; Andre Dirrell; Mikkel Kessler; Arthur Abraham and Johnson), all of whom are (or were) world class: 206-19-3 (145). I can't think of any British fighter who has consistently competed at that level and won all but one, the defeat to Kessler being close.

Now on to 24-0 (13) Ward, 27, who hasn't lost since he was a 12-year-old amateur.

"He's a great fighter and a gentleman but i know exactly how to beat him," roared the ardent Nottingham Forest supporter.

Image courtesy of Tom Casino/Showtime.

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.

Froch and Johnson weigh-in news

Carl Froch comfortably made weight for his Super Six semi-final and WBC super-middleweight title defence in Atlantic City tonight (June 4).

The Nottingham puncher, who makes the first defence of his World Boxing Council strap in his second reign as champion against Miami-based Jamaican Glen Johnson at the Boardwalk Hall, tipped the scales at a lean-looking 11st 13lbs 8oz.

Veteran former IBF light-heavyweight world champion Johnson, nine years older at 42 and with a paid record of 51-14-2 (35), came in at a trim 11st 12lbs - his lowest weight for 11 years.

It will be interesting to see how closest football fan Johnson, at his advanced stage of his career and with a lot of wear-and-tear behind him, will cope with making super-middleweight after a decade competing seven pounds north at light-heavyweight. 

But ultra-confident Froch, 27-1 (20), has hardly had a smooth week. Although weight-making hasn't been an issue, the Rob McCraken-trained East Midlander spent a few hours in hospital on Thursday evening due to an ear problem that problem stems back to his epic fight with Jean Pascal in 2008, when his eardrum was perforated.

"It's not a problem now," said the die-hard Nottingham Forest supporter, who hopes to book his place with undefeated WBA champion Andre Ward in the Super Six final.

"I'm giving him [Roy Jones Jr and Antonio Tarver conquerer Johnson] the respect he deserves but there's only one winner," he added.

The pair are expected to be in the ring at 2.30am UK time.

Images courtesy of Tom Casino/Showtime.

Concepcion returns on Mitchell show

Many in the trade thought they'd seen the last of Martin Concepcion after he was battered to a two-round defeat in February.

The iron-fisted former British and Commonwealth title challenger from Leicester was dropped and stopped by unefeated Sergei Rabchenka - who beat common denominator,  ex-Commonwealth 11st boss Bradley Pryce, on points last month - on that night and the career that promised so much looked to have been brought to a brutal end.

But Concepcion, 17-9 (10), is back and looks to rebuild with a six-rounder on former European heavyweight title challenger Clifton Mitchell's ambitious eight-fight show at Whitwick's Hermitage Leisure Centre - about 15 miles outside of Leicester - on September 25.

Despite winning his first eleven fights as a paid fighter and getting a reputation as a can't-miss prospect, the 29-year-old has struggled since. He's gone 6-9, been knocked out in six of those reversals, and has lost his last two, albeit against two fighters (Rabchenka and then-British 11st champ Sam Webb) who had a combined record of 31-1.

The former Midland Area light-middleweight boss concedes his recent form has been patchy but hopes a few more wins etched onto his professional tab will get him into the position to challenge for top domestic honours once more.

"I've still got goals i want to achieve," said a man whose twin brother, middleweight Kevin, is also a pro.

Another Leicester puncher, super-middleweight Jahmaine Smyle, 4-2-1 (3), is on the bill along with undefeated Ryan Hookway, 3-0.