Ball: I'm stronger than Al Harbi and that'll be the difference

Jamie Ball believes he has the edge in both power and strength going into his English title eliminator next month.

The Coseley southpaw tackles fellow-unbeaten Nasser Al Harbi in a eagerly-anticipated ten-rounder on a Dave Coldwell-promoted bill at Birmingham's New Bingley Hall on March 16, with the winner in-line for a crack at English 11st boss Erik Ochieng.

Ball is adamant that man will be him and is also looking to settle a score in the biggest Birmingham-Black Country clash since Wayne Elcock defended his British middleweight title against Dudley's Darren McDermott at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2008.

Elcock retained his Lonsdale Belt with a controversial two-round cut stoppage that night and the current Midlands Area light-middleweight champion wants to restore pride to the Black Country with his 14th professional victory in 15 [one draw, four inside].

Yet Al Harbi, the 22-year-old who holds a developmental WBC strap at welterweight, has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most avoided prospects in Britain. Undefeated in 13 [one quickly] and trained by dad Naji, the fast-fisted Brummie saw testing-looking scraps with the likes of Matthew Hall and then-unbeaten Dean Byrne fall through in 2011.

But the 30-minute battle in the Second City is [on paper] a career-hardest assignment for both - and the reward for the victor could be a British title fight in two contests time, possibly against Birmingham's Max Maxwell, who boxes for the belt against former victim Brian Rose in Blackpool on March 31. 

That would do excellent business in the West Midlands and Ball thinks the fans are the winners from this bout onwards. "This is a great fight, for both the fighters and the public," said a 27-year-old who, after three inside-the-distance victories on the bounce [including the Area title-winning body shot KO of durable A.A Lowe in February], is quickly gaining a reputation as a puncher.

"But i am stronger, bigger and hit harder than Al Harbi - and i'm the first southpaw he'll have faced. From what I've seen of him before i think he's a good technical boxer, has fast hands and good footwork. Then again, i'm not unbeaten for nothing and have more to my game than just brawling.

"If i win this then it's going to open even more doors for me, what with English and British title fights around the corner," he continued. "Every boxer wants respect from those inside and outside of the trade and i'll get that if i beat an avoided fighter like Nasser.

"It's still two weeks away but i'm ready for this now and more than confident that it'll be me going onto those big fights," added Ball, who's trained by his uncle and former undefeated pro Shaun Cooper.

Possible Prizefighter berth for Maughan

Terry Maughan must feel like a lifetime of Christmas' and birthdays are going to arrive in April and May.

The Nottingham light-middleweight boxes for his maiden professional belt, the vacant British Masters 11st strap against A.A Lowe on a Carl Greaves-promoted bill at Newark's Grove Leisure Centre on April 7, and has just been informed of even better news by Eddie Hearn.

The Matchroom Sport supremo Tweeted Maughan [pictured] to tell him that he's in the running to fill one of the three remaining spots on the all-Irish middleweight Prizefighter in Belfast on May 5 and, if he isn't chosen for it, that he'll definitely be on the Carl Froch homecoming show on May 19.

But first he has a small matter of local bragging rights in a Battle of Nottinghamshire bout with a hardy ex-Masters middleweight boss, 9-6-1 (1), who lives 20 miles up the road and who's been ten rounds with a bigger, stronger fighter [Harry Matthews] in his last two contests.

And though Tony Harris-trained Maughan, 6-2, has never done more than six-twos and enters the intriguing-looking scrap as a lively underdog, he's insistent he has the ability and stamina to stop the super-fit former Royal Marine from taking home a second belt at a brace of weights.

Yet in spite of the news he's just been given - and the fact that if he isn't boxing in the popular three-threes competition then he'll be boxing at a venue, Nottingham's Capital FM Arena, that he could walk to from his house - the 26-year-old Sneinton-based scrapper refuses to look past the challenge he has in just over five weeks time. 

"It's great news that Hearn has put me on the shortlist for Prizefighter and that i will be boxing on the Froch undercard, but I've got a massive fight first and i can't stop thinking about that," admitted a man who hails from the same part of Nottingham as one of the greatest bare-knuckle pugilists in history, William 'Bendigo' Thompson.

"It's a big step up for me and a first time over 30 minutes, but i think i'll shock a few people on the night.

"The next couple of months are going to be exciting for me and it's exactly what I've been waiting for," added an Irish-rooted East Midlander who forced himself into the Prizefighter running with a Twitter campaign. "I won't let anyone down."

Clinical Dickinson demolishes David

Prior to Saturday, Paul David was looking to pick a fight with a British champion at one of three weights.

But after being demolished in under three minutes by Travis Dickinson on a Sky Sports-televised six-rounder in Aberdeen last night [February 25], the Northampton fighter will now be looking to pick up the pieces of his career.

David [pictured on the offensive against Carl Drake in Prizefighter two years ago] had never been halted in a stop-start six-year paid journey that saw him have Midlands Area light-heavyweight and English super-middleweight belts strapped around his waist - as well as pushing current WBA world Interim 12st champion Brian Magee all the way in just his seventh outing.

Yet after a sharp start to his bout with former light-heavyweight Prizefighter champion Dickinson, who hadn't seen competitive action since that triumph 13 months ago, the 27-year-old ex-Ingle-tutored but now Johnny Eames-trained puncher caught a left-left-right high on the temple, hit the ground with a thud and desperately tried to regain his senses in order to continue.

Though the impact of the senses-scrambling punch meant he initially fell drunkenly into the ropes as he tried to reach his feet, David, who drops to 13-6 (5) and who suffered his first stoppage defeat, somehow made it to a vertical position. It was to no avail, however, and Kenny Pringle rightly waived it off 97 seconds into the opening session.

The devastating and conclusive manner of the defeat for a loose, quick-footed Midlander who's always been matched tough and was once penciled in to box for the vacant Lonsdale Belt at 12st could set him back a fair bit. He was nailed by a crunching shot early and never had the chance to recover. That's boxing.

But for Frank Maloney-handled Dickinson, who holds two amateur victories [one by first-round stoppage] over reigning British super-middleweight champion George Groves, he'll be looking for progressive bouts that will catapult him towards an exciting-looking showdown with the current British and Commonwealth 12'7 boss, Liverpool's all-action Tony Bellew.

Both weighed 12st 11lbs and, for the record, that's the fourth Midlands-based fighter [after Brummie pair Hamed Jamali and Hastings Rasani and flashy Coventry stylist Llewy Davies] that the Country Durham banger, now 11-0 (5), has beaten since turning to the professional ranks three years ago. 

Controlled Gavin dismantles ex-British king McIntyre

Frankie Gavin has warned the welterweights of Britain that the fully-dedicated version of himself has finally arrived.

The nimble-footed Brummie southpaw [pictured throwing a left against Graham Fearn in 2009] made a statement by dismissing former British welterweight champion Kevin McIntyre in just over eight minutes in Cardiff last night [February 25].

The all-portsider eight-rounder, broadcast live on the undercard of Nathan Cleverley's shut-out WBO world light-heavyweight title defence on a Frank Warren-promoted, BoxNation-televised bill, was Gavin's first since a harder-than-anticipated 12-rounder with footballer-turned-boxer Curtis Woodhouse, who pushed him to a split decision, in June.

Since then, the 26-year-old Second City stylist has overhauled his lifestyle and training personnel. Now living with his mum in his home city, Frankie has changed trainers twice [Anthony Farnell and Jimmy Tibbs] and is now back with his former amateur coach, Hall Green ABC's Tom Chaney. 

And last night's controlled dismantling of a former domestic king from Scotland, 33, who's last defeat was to former WBC world champion Junior Witter looked more like the quick-footed, blur-fisted Gavin of old - the impossible-to-hit stylist who so impressively became World Amateur champion in Chicago five years ago. 

Gliding effortlessly in out and of range and switching from body to head and back again, Frankie always looked comfortable. By the second the West Midlander was rattling in rapid right-left one-twos, thumping in left hooks to the body and nimbly avoiding the rare swinging attacks of the Paisley postman.

After leading-off with right uppercuts in the opening frames of the third, fluid Gavin lifted his opponent's guard with a neatly-threaded uppercut before adeptly switching the attack downstairs and sinking McIntyre, who drops to 30-9 (9), onto his knees and then all-fours with a rib-rattling right.

McIntyre has been sunk with body shots before - and decked in the opening three minutes in his last two entering the Gavin contest - and the agony etched upon his face meant he never looked as though he'd beat the count tolled over him by Welsh referee Winford Jones, who waived the scheduled 24-minute bout off at 2-22 of the third.

Both were 10st 7lbs at the Friday weigh-in and the victor was pleased with his night's work. "I've had my problems but i'm back and thought i put in a decent showing," said the Yardley-based Birmingham City supporter, who had to enter the ring with the knowledge that his beloved side has lost their season-long unbeaten home record to Nottingham Forest [2-1] earlier that day.

"I was patient but i could feel him start to weaken from body shots as soon as i started to land them. He made noise whenever i thumped them home and knew at the end of the second i could finish it when i wanted.

"I'm only going to keep getting better and better with every camp," soon-to-be father Gavin, 12-0 (9) and who's likely to box again in six weeks, continued. "If you thought this was a decent performance, just wait until my second and third camp with Tom. I know there's so much more to come.

"This is the new Frankie Gavin," he roared.

Mixed fortunes for Midlanders on Grimsby bill

Jody Meikle secured a rare win on a Carl Greaves show in Grimsby last night, but there were mixed fortunes for the other Midlands boxers on show.

Meikle, a durable, hard-nosed Lincolnshire super-middleweight [pictured tossing a right at Callum Johnson last year] who has yet to be stopped in Britain, shrugged off a sterling challenge from Tony Shields to register his second paid win in 17 at the Leisure Centre.

Though the commentary team on Hatton TV, who broadcast the six-fight bill in its entirety live on YouTube, had the Hull first-timer winning a show-opening four-threes that was always keenly-contested, i thought referee Rob Chalmers' decision [39-37 for the Newhall-based official] was the right one - and had the bullet-domed scrapper edging matters 39-38.

Shields [12st 6lbs], based on his wide-footed stance and unusual habit of holding his gloves high above his head when coming forwards, looks to have had some sort of background in martial arts. But he looked study and needed to be as the chopping right of the man who holds a   win over dangerous Derby puncher Elvis Dube found its mark with regularity.

The second and thirds were close - i had the second round level and 23-year-old Tony taking the third by a whisker - but thought Scunthorpe-based Meikle [12st 9lbs 6oz] edged a competitive final three minutes that saw Shields plow forward but eat plenty of rights.

A rare but well-earned victory for the Greaves-handled 31-year-old, now 2-15, who'll be back on the road again soaking-up punishment from 12st and 12st 7lbs prospects in the coming weeks.

But well-sculpted Lincoln heavyweight Gaz Johnson [15st 9 1/4lbs] could only escape with a draw after being forced to touch down in the fourth of his six-twos with pale, flabby West Yorkshireman James Oliphant [15st 5lbs], whose professional ledger now reads an unspectacular 0-1-1.

Referee Mr Chalmers marked the 12-minute contest between a pair of novices 57 apiece, which, for what it's worth, tallied with how i saw things - and now sees the East Midlander's record drop to 1-0-1.

Johnson won the Junior ABAs as a teenager but took over a decade off from the sport and returned on the unlicenced circuit in 2008, at 32. He did well there, won his paid debut 11 months ago, and seemed on his way to securing his second [dominating behind a double jab] when he went to ground after landing a solid right in the fourth.

The pain on his face clear for all to see, the 35-year-old crumpled onto all fours and in obvious agony from a right he'd used sparingly throughout [shades of Chris Eubank Jr's six-rounder with Jason Ball last weekend]. Though he got up and finished the contest one-handed, albeit bleeding heavily from a cut that needed six stitches, the fourth was scored 10-8 and Wakefield's Oliphant took the last to secure a draw.

But there were points defeats for Nuneaton's 125-bout Kristian Laight [9st 12lbs 8oz], Newstead's winless but always game Andy Hardy [11st] and Lincoln's Rick Boulter [11st 4lbs]. 

Scot Calow-trained Hardy edged a session [the second] on my card but not on referee Michael Alexander's and went down 40-36 to undefeated Barnsley middleweight Matthew Malin [11st 2lbs], now without a blemish in six [one inside], after an excellent four-threes that saw the Yorkshireman turn the screw in the last and leave the Nottingham man bloody-nosed.

And Laight looked to have taken a round off Joel Haigh [9st 13lbs], now 3-0, in their six-twos but referee Mr Alexander marked it a shut-out to the 21-year-old from Hull. Kristian pot-shotted his oncoming opponent with lefts and rights but it was Haigh who spent the bout on the attack and his aggression was reflected in the official's scoreline.

Tall, lean southpaw Boulter was involved in an all-Lincolnshire six-twos sizzler with Sammy McSpadden [10st 10lbs 8oz], with referee Mr Chalmers awarding the 22-year-old a 59-57 tally that looked spot on for me. McSpadden, an orthodox boxer who fought out of a right-leading stance against a portsider who wanted to trade on the inside, secured the win with a combination of neat-boxing at range and a steady stream of lefts.

In the ten-round main event, Grimsby's Kevin Cooper added the International Masters lightweight title to his British version with a shut-out 100-90 decision from Mr Alexander over stubborn Eastern European import Yordan Vasilev. The Bulgarian stoutly stuck to his task but took a comprehensive 30-minute beating from a well-supported 27-year-old who's now unbeaten in 11 [two early].

Booth looking to end career on winning note

Jason Booth is likely to have one more fight before hanging up the gloves for good. 

The always-brave Nottingham super-bantamweight [pictured with one of two Lonsdale Belts he's secured outright] suffered his third defeat on the bounce at the weekend, against Kid Galahad in Rotherham, which left many questioning his future involvement in the sport.

Afterwards, the veteran two-weight British and three-weight Commonwealth boss hinted at turning his hand to training, but it's looking as if the once-smooth-boxing Booth will drop to bantamweight and seek to end his career with his 37th paid victory [nine defeats, 15 stoppages].

Though he's lost four of his previous five and is winless in the last 12 months, the Tony Harris-trained stylist has nothing to be ashamed of in title defeats that his saw his conquerors [Steve Molitor, IBF, Kiko Martinez, vacant European, Scott Quigg, losing his British, and Galahad, vacant WBC International] combined records read a none-too-shabby 88-4.

But the signs of age and wear and tear brought on by 16 years of testing battles, both inside and outside the ring, have been evident since he lost that world title challenge to slick Canadian Molitor in October 2010. The strength of naturally-bigger Martinez and Quigg forced Booth to suffer inside-the-distance defeats, and a combination of size and youth saw Galahad prevail at the weekend.

And Jimmy Gill, the East Midlander's long-serving manager, conceded that a career that has seen his 34-year-old Strelley-based charge dominate the domestic scene at a brace of weights and challenge for a recognised version of a world title, only losing on a majority decision, is coming to an end. 

He said: "Jason is clearly coming to the end of the road.

"He was reduced to wild swings with his back to the ropes and hardly threw a body punch all night. In the past - and only about 15 months ago - Jay would have destroyed this kid with something to spare," he continued.

"But he'd like to go out on a winning note and we're looking at a six or eight-rounder, possibly in Nottingham, at bantamweight to make sure Jason goes out how he started when he turned pro in 1996 - as a winner."

Focused Gavin after domestic crown

Frankie Gavin has set his sights on an assault on the British title within his next three outings.

The smooth-boxing Brummie [pictured nailing Michael Lomax with a right on the way to a seven-round stoppage win a year ago] has his first outing in six months and tackles former Lonsdale Belt-holder Kevin McIntyre in an all-southpaw eight-rounder in Wales this weekend.

That's on the undercard of Nathan Cleverley's BoxNation-televised WBO world light-heavyweight title defence in Cardiff [February 25] and Gavin has trained harder-than-ever for a 33-year-old Scot who may have eight defeats on his 39-bout paid tab [30 wins, one No Contest, and nine stoppages] but who holds wins over some decent men.

Tony Doherty, then 20-0, was comfortably outpointed over ten and Kevin Anderson lost his British welterweight title to the Paisley postman by almost shut-out margins. He repeated the trick against Anderson three months later, in February 2008, and has subsequently scalped touted Stephen Haughian for the Celtic belt, seven-fight unbeaten John Wayne Hibbert in Prizefighter and, last time out, twice hauled himself off the floor in the opener to take a 30-minute nod over Gary McMillan.

Yet Frankie, now permanently training and living in his home city after well-documented stays in Manchester and London, has admitted to feeling as sharp as he ever has since entering the paid ranks - on the back of an amateur career that was topped by a World Amateur gold, never before or since done by a British boxer - three years ago. 

Settled and happy, both inside and outside of the ring, back in Birmingham with old amateur coach Tom Chaney, the Frank Warren-promoted welter has also nonchalantly shrugged off several changes of opponent. Originally set to face dangerous Welsh puncher Jason Cook, Gavin was then penciled in to meet Gary McMillan until McIntyre was finally settled on two weeks ago.

But an impressive win against the veteran could set him on his way to a purists dream showdown with neat-boxing British 10'7 champion Colin Lynes, who so impressively ripped the belt away from big-hitting Lee Purdy in November.

And the quick-footed, fast-fisted West Midlander admitted he'd like to be in with Lynes as soon as Frank Warren can secure it. "Hopefully i will be in a position to box for the British title within three fights," he said ahead of a 24-minute test with a man who's swapped punches with Kell Brook and former WBC world 10st king Junior Witter.

"I feel ready now but time will tell if i'm given the chance as quickly as i'd like," added a 26-year-old Birmingham City supporter, 11-0 (8), from the Yardley area of the Second City.

Hearn hints at WBC or IBF option for Froch's Nottingham return

Eddie Hearn has revealed that Carl Froch could fight for either the WBC or IBF world super-middleweight titles in May.

The Matchroom supremo is lining up Froch [pictured threading through a left uppercut against Glen Johnson last year] for a home city return, at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena on May 19, and it's looking ever-likely that a world title will be on the line.

Andre Ward, the slick-boxing American who dominated the 30-fight [28 wins, 20 stoppages] East Midlander over 12 rounds in December to take the WBC 12st belt, vacated that title yesterday [February 21] and that could now see Froch meeting the younger brother of an ex-Olympian whom he outpointed with his world title on the line in his last defence in Nottingham.

Anthony Dirrell, undefeated in 24 [21 quickly], won a WBC world title eliminator before Christmas and has spoke of his thirst to get revenge over an iron-jawed Englishman who earned a hard-fought split decision over his then 18-bout unbeaten brother Andre in the first round of the Super Six in October 2009. 

But the showdown with Montreal-based Romanian Lucian Bute, 30-0 (24), is the one the public are craving. The IBF champion hinted on Twitter that he'd leave Canada to take on Froch, 34, and that would be a mouth-watering clash between two ex-highly-rated amateurs who've gone on to big things in the paid ranks and not afraid to trade nose-to-nose when needs be.

And Hearn, who's quickly getting a reputation as one of the most affable and fan-friendly promoters in the game, said: "I heard that Andre Ward has vacated his WBC belt - so there's options aplenty for us at the moment. 

"Bute is obviously the fight we'd would like to make the most, but this is a new avenue to explore. If the other angle didn't come off but the vacant title fight did, i'm sure Carl wouldn't complain about the chance to be a three-time WBC world super-middleweight champion," added Leyton Orient's vice-chairman.

Macklin turns his back on Britain

Matthew Macklin won't defend his world title in Birmingham if he manages to cause a huge upset next month - because he no longer holds a British licence.

The big-hitting middleweight from Solihull crosses swords with pound-for-pound number three-rated Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Gardens on St Patrick's Day having informed the British Boxing Board of Control he no longer wants to be licenced by them.

Macklin's shock announcement, which arrived in form of a letter at the board's offices last week, has sent shock-waves through the Midlands boxing community and left many pondering what his next move could be if Martinez gets the better of him.

They clash for the WBC Diamond title on March 17 with the 37-year-old California-based Argentinian, who's only lost two of 52 [two draws, 27 early], a huge betting favourite to be too skilled for a face-first Irish-rooted Brummie who has a reputation for getting involved in career-shortening contests when the red mist descends.

Managed in Ireland by Brian Peters and currently trained and promoted in America by Buddy McGirt and Lou DiBella respectively, the 29-year-old Birmingham City supporter, 28-3 (19) and who controversially lost a WBA world title challenge to Felix Sturm in Germany last summer, has always been his own boss.

He's frequently changed his trainers and promoters and it's thought he believes he can fill the currently-empty Irish void left by Derry's John Duddy in the New York market, irrespective of the result next month.

But fellow Brummie and former opponent Wayne Elcock, who surrendered his British belt to Macklin in an hotly-anticipated all-Birmingham showdown at Aston Villa Leisure Centre in 2009, is baffled by the former two-time European champion's decision. He said: "It seems a strange choice for me.

"By doing this he loses - if he can beat Martinez, which is a tough ask - the chance to defend his title in his home city, which any proud Brummie would love to do," continued a Shard End-born former IBF world middleweight title challenger who has settled comfortably into retirement with his community-helping program Box Clever.

"But if he doesn't beat Martinez, Macklin has frozen himself out of fights with [British and Commonwealth champion Martin] Murray and [ex-European champion and recent Martinez opponent Darren] Barker, which would be good for Britain and could get the winner back in the world title mix. It seems crazy to me."

Galahad dominates Booth the Brave

The long and distinguished career of Jason Booth could have come to an end a few miles up the road from where he made his pro debut 16 years ago.

The Nottingham super-bantamweight conceded a unanimous 12-round decision to unbeaten Kid Galahad, on a Hennessy Sports-promoted, Channel 5-televised bill at Rotherham's Magna Centre on Saturday night [February 18], meaning he's now lost his last three and four of his previous five [all in title fights].

But though he was dominated by a younger, nimble-footed South Yorkshireman who'd been likened to a young Naseem Hamed in the build up to their vacant WBC International super-bantamweight title scrap, Booth showed early on that he wasn't as spent as the Ingles and Mick Hennessy had probably gambled on.

The former two-weight British and three-weight Commonwealth boss, who won his first British title when his opponent was only nine, sensationally made Galahad touch down with a counter left in the dying embers of the opening round and inspired hope into the sizeable following who'd traveled from the Robin Hood city hoping for the clock to be turned back one more time.

Yet there were to be no more highs and the judges scorecards - 118-111 for John Keane [which matched my tally], 118-110 for Victor Loughlin and a baffling 120-109 from Ian John-Lewis, meaning he gave the first round, in which Galahad was given a count, 10-10 - reflected the nature of the fight, if not the heart and bravery Booth showed.

The opener seemed to be about level until Jason [8st 8lbs 14oz] uncorked that left in his opponent's corner, forcing Galahad's glove to momentarily graze the canvas. Booth's face, however, was reddened by the accurate one-twos from his 21-year-old co-challenger at the end of the second and by the third he was falling short and being tattooed by quick-fisted hooks and straights.

The sharpness and accuracy of the Sheffield fighter, real name Barry Awad, continued to show in the fourth and fifth but a series of solid-looking blows from the Tony Harris-trained, Jimmy Gill-managed veteran former IBF world title challenger in the sixth earned him a share on my card and showed he wasn't anywhere near ready for the taking.

But it was noticeable that the smooth-boxing and combination punching that had become his trademark and had taken him to that world title shot against Steve Molitor in 2010 was absent and replaced by single pot-shot counters with his back to the ropes. But at 34 and with a testing journey, inside and outside of the ropes, that's understandable.

Hard and willing, Booth always smiled and beckoned in the well-supported local when trapped on the ropes - looking to time the incoming man with a counter. Though a few got through and sent sweat flying from Kid's shaven head, rounds seven, eight and nine were Galahad's, who found the usually-smooth and elusive East Midlander's head a fairly easy target.

I thought Jason shared the tenth, nailing the Ingle-tutored stylist with several overhand rights. Galahad [8st 9lbs 10oz], though, came on strong in the last two [remarkable when you consider this was his first time past six and this was Booth's 23rd scheduled 36-minute bout] and was still desperately seeking the stoppage as the bell rang to end the fight.

Despite the impressive-looking scorelines and having the first belt of his career wrapped around his 8st 10lbs waist, Galahad, 11-0 (4), is still not ready to make an assault on the premier fighters in Britain: Rendall Munroe, British champion Scott Quigg and Commonwealth king Carl Frampton. At times he looked smooth, swashbuckling and slick, but did eat plenty plenty of counters when static-footed and on the attack.

Those improvements should come with age and experience but for Booth, now 36-9 (15) and who made his paid bow a few miles down the road in Sheffield in 1996, this could be the end as a top-level performer. But as always, the gracious loser had plenty of praise for the man who'd just beaten him and said: "He reminds me of a younger version of me.

"He's young and sharp and caught me coming in. He can go far and i wish him all the best," added a boxer from the Strelley area of Nottingham, who hinted that training may be his next step when he does decide to hang the gloves up for good.

Greaves-handled Ball rattles Eubank Jr

Jason Ball made sure that Chris Eubank Jr won't forget his name in a hurry.

Managed in the Midlands by former pro Carl Greaves [pictured, centre, with his charge], the 28-year-old shrugged off four rounds of being out-boxed to have his much-touted opponent on shakey pins and in survival mode throughout the final six minutes.

Ball won the Central Area and British Masters light-middleweight straps with a seven-round smashing of Steve Harkin on a BoxNation show last month and his second appearance on television, on a Hennessy Sports-promoted, Channel 5-televised bill in Rotherham on Saturday night [February 18], painted the improving ex-MMA protagonist in an even greater light.

Naturally smaller - as said, he boxed at 11st less than a month ago - the Stefy Bull-trained Doncaster puncher never appeared bothered by the strength of Eubank and, when he managed to get close enough to let his hands go, the eldest son of the former two-weight world champion with the same name looked a trifle lost.

Pre-fight, i'd predicted that Ball would be a rough and tough handful for a one-fight novice whose debut consisted of him beating up an Eastern European import for four rounds without a punch in anger in reply. One thing you could have been certain on was that Ball, who was unbeaten in his last three [one draw] entering, was going to throw leather - and plenty of it.

Yet it looked like it was going to be an easier assignment than first thought in the opening three minutes, with the Brighton-based super-middleweight utilising a screw uppercut and sharp left lead to keep his opponent in check. The second followed in a similar vein - Ball being made to fall short before being punished with lefts.

I'd noted that Eubank, who lacks the explosiveness of his enigmatic father, was yet to use his right and that his over-exertions, of both foot and fist, could prove dangerous against a fit and willing foe like Ball [11st 9lb 2oz], who'd completed two six-threes previously and went seven rounds last time out.

Three and four followed the same pattern as the previous six minutes, with the patient, calm 22-year-old Ronnie Davies-trained stylist digging the body with the left before exploding a series of quick-handed hooks upstairs.

Yet there was some debate on press row about whether or not Eubank [11st 8lbs 4oz] had a pre-fight hand injury or was just trying to dominate a willing opponent exclusively with his left for the sake of ego. The desperate actions of an exhausted one-armed fighter in the fifth round answered that question.

Jason felt the strength of the always-moving Sussex man drain and a right hand briefly rattled Eubank, whose wooden-legged stumble illustrated just how exhausted he was. Encouraged by the shouts of his corner, Ball bit down on his gumshield, plowed forward and unleashed a volley of punches at an opponent who was now in unknown territory and in trouble.

The final round saw much of the same - Chris' attacks were rare and wild; the South Yorkshireman confidently boxed on the front foot and nailed his tired foe with bursts of two-handed blows as he desperately covered on the ropes. Though Eubank's hand was lofted skywards at the final bell, 58-56 for Howard Foster [which matched my card], Ball probably came out with more credit.

A shocked Eubank, now unbeaten in two [one inside], later revealed he'd injured his right hand sparring a  heavyweight a week before but he won't forget Jason Ball, now with five wins [four quickly] and a draw on a 12-fight pro ledger that has seen him box nine unbeaten men, for a very long time.

And there was another points defeat for a Carl Greaves-managed fighter on the Magna undercard. Nottinghamshire-based Simeon Cover [14st 11lbs 10oz] conceded a 40-36 nod from referee Michael Alexander against Sheffield's Karl Bell [13st 13lbs 12oz], who outpointed the former British Masters super-middleweight champion on his debut last year, in a four-threes that went on just before the main event.

Cover, in paid outing 65, fully-utilises the awkwardness picked up from years spent with the Ingles and though knocked off-balance in the opening stanza, the 33-year-old Worksop veteran never looked like being put away early. Tall Bell, now 2-0 and with John Ingle in his corner, slotted in some nice punches but the tendency to slap with hooks marred a solid showing.

Image courtesy of Andrew Millwall.

Truman unlucky not to be given Daws nod

Chris Truman can count himself unfortunate not to have the scalp of an ex-British champion on his record.

The Birmingham light-welterweight, boxing on the Hennessy Sports-promoted, Channel 5-televised undercard of Kid Galahad's vacant WBC International title fight with Jason Booth in Rotherham last night, conceded an eight-round decision to Lenny Daws in a bout he looked to have won.

Usually a solid judge, well-respected Doncaster referee and former pro Michael Alexander remarkably saw the high-intensity 33-year-old former two-time British 10st boss a 79-75 victor [or 5-1-2 in rounds] that looked so wide of the mark that serious questions need to be asked.

For what it's worth and for the record, i had Errol Johnson-trained Truman [pictured, above, on the attack on his pro debut in 2009] edging an always-interesting contest 77-76. But to have Daws losing only one session when those i spoke to on press row all agreed that he didn't win a round until the fifth is nothing short of scandalous. 

Despite conceding over five inches in height, 27-year-old Chris, who fights for his first professional title at the end of next month, made an excellent start. The ardent Aston Villa supporter, wearing claret and blue shorts, boxed on the front foot, ducked underneath Daws' lead and exploded with accurate overhand rights.

This continued throughout rounds two and three, with bull-strong Truman timing his right hands perfectly over the once-formidable jab of the Morden-based crowd-pleaser, who wasn't allowed to settle into any form of rhythm. By the fourth Lenny's face was red and his Brummie foe continued to work away on the inside with success.

Short left hooks as his opponent marched in and rights to the body started to find their mark for Daws [10st 1lb 14oz] from the fifth onwards, though - and the jab that secured him victories over the likes of Colin Lynes, Nigel Wright and Barry Morrison showed more potency and accuracy in the sixth. 

The seventh was an even affair with both giving as good as they got and, in truth, Daws probably got the better of the last, whipping in uppercuts on the inside as the rough and tough nature took its toll on two willing men known for their fitness. 

Well-supported Chris [10st 1lb 12oz] offered his hand at the bell but was met with a shake of the head and Daws, who's slowing down with age and the effects of a tough career, improves to 23-2-2 (9) and keeps his projected British title eliminator later in the year on track.

For Truman, 8-2-1 (1), the disbelief on his face when the scoreline was read out said more than a thousand words could. He still boxes for the Midlands Area light-welterweight belt in Burton on March 30, against Derby champion Dave Ryan, and on the evidence of last night's stellar showing against a British top ten-rated former champion don't bet against him winning it.

There also was defeat for another of Errol Johnson's boxers, 147-fight Wolverhampton veteran Delroy Spencer [8st 8lbs 14oz], who was shut-out over four-threes by Doncaster southpaw Jason Cunningham [8st 8lbs 12oz], now unbeaten in two and who threaded through some nice right-leading punches after a slow start.

Three and easy for sharp Wood

Leigh Wood came close to achieving what 47 men before him have failed to do and stop Pavels Senkovs with punches.

Instead, the well-schooled Nottingham featherweight [pictured after his paid debut in his home city last year] settled for a 40-37 four-threes nod from referee Howard Foster on the Hennessy Sports-promoted bill at Rotherham's Magna Centre last night [February 18].

Durable Senkovs, already a veteran of almost 50 professional fights at just 22 and who's held former British title challenger Sean Hughes to a draw recently, has only ever been stopped on cuts [two occasions], but Wood's sharp boxing and chopping rights forced the referee to take a closer look in the penultimate session of the 12-minute contest.

But the Nottinghamshire-based Latvian [9st 1 1/4lbs] stoutly survived the two-fisted onslaught from the tall, lean and neat-boxing former Junior ABA champion, who brought a coach-load of noisy followers from Gedling, and did enough to share one round [though, in honesty, i struggled to see which round that was; i had it a shut-out] on Mr Alexander's card.

Using good footwork to glide in and out of range and score with left hooks to the body and rights to the head throughout, 23-year-old Wood [9st 2 1/2lbs] was in command. He varied the attack in rounds one and two - body-head-body and then head-body-head - and though Senkovs was dangerous with the right, a weapon that has brought about both his pro victories, the East Midlander stayed alert and one-step ahead.

That's three out of three now for Ingle-trained Leigh, who's yet to drop one of the 14 rounds he's boxed so far. When he made space with his feet to slot in those long rights, the unbeaten prospect looked very measured and assured. He looks to have a solid future ahead of him.

But two of Wood's gym-mates, Sheffield-based super-featherweight first-timer Leo D'Erlanger and Barnsley's former British Masters light-middleweight champion Lee Noble, didn't manage to register victories. 

D'Erlanger escaped his four-twos show-opener against chunky Ryan McNicol with a 38 apiece draw that looked about right for me. Shaven-headed Scottish southpaw McNicol, now 3-14-3, lost on points to Wood in November but found the wiry, nervous debutant a more manageable assignment. Referee was former pro Michael Alexander and both weighed 9st 3 1/2lbs.

And capable but erratic Noble [11st 9lbs] lost a 39-37 four-threes decision to Irishman Dee Walsh [11st 6lbs 10oz], who's now undefeated in two. 

In a scrappy contest which saw heads frequently come together and left Noble cut over the right eye and puts his fight with Dudley's Ryan Aston in jeopardy, Walsh's cleaner [if less frequent] work won the day. I thought a draw would have been a fair result after the always-circling Belfast boxer, 22, clearly won the second and the local boxer, now 13-21-2 (3), took the final session by some distance. Rounds one and three were even. Howard Foster officiated.

Image courtesy of Andrew Millwall.

Booth comfortably makes weight for Galahad title showdown

Both Jason Booth and Kid Galahad easily made the super-bantamweight limit for their vacant WBC International title fight at today's weigh-in at Meadowhall.

Tony Harris-trained Booth [pictured, right, with Galahad and the WBC strap] is a heavy betting underdog going into the 12-rounder with the ten-fight unbeaten [four quickly] prospect, who weighed a lean and ripped 8st 9lbs 10oz.

But the veteran former two-weight British and three-weight Commonwealth champion from Nottingham, 34, who'll compete in his 23rd 12-rounder on the Hennessy Sports-promoted, Channel 5-televised bill at Rotherham's Magna Centre tomorrow night [February 18], looked fit and confident - coming in at 8st 8lbs 14oz.

For Ingle-trained Galahad, 21, this is his first 36-minute contest and first bout scheduled for more than eight-threes.

Two other Midlands-based fighters also weighed in at the Sheffield shopping centre earlier today. Birmingham light-welterweight Chris Truman, 8-1-1 (1), tipped the scales at 10st 1lb 12oz for his eight-rounder with former British light-welterweight boss Lenny Daws, 22-2-2 (9), who was two ounces heavier at 10st 1lb 14oz. Irrespective of the result, Truman boxes Derby's Dave Ryan for the Midlands Area 10st belt on March 30 in Burton.

Worksop's Simeon Cover has a significant weight advantage over former opponent Karl Bell [13st 13lbs 12oz], who outpointed the Nottinghamshire cruiserweight over four rounds on his pro bow at the tail-end of this year. They meet again over four and former British Masters champion Cover, taking part in his 65th outing tomorrow, was 14st 11lbs 10oz.

Image courtesy of Hennessy Sports.

Concepcion concedes defeat could spell the end

Martin Concepcion has conceded that defeat next month will not only spell the end of his British title ambitions but also his career.

The big-hitting Midlands Area champion from Leicester tackles improving Nick Blackwell in an explosive-looking punch-up for the English middleweight title on a PJ Promotions-promoted bill at Trowbridge Civic Hall on March 3 with the winner potentially in line for a British title shot.

Blackwell, 10-1 (4), has already challenged Martin Murray for the British and Commonwealth straps last year and though never off his feet was pulled out after five tough rounds. Murray subsequently held WBA world champion Felix Sturm to a draw in Germany.

But the 21-year-old Wiltshire ticket-seller has rebounded with two stoppage wins, one for the International Masters title in December, and the scalp of the once-touted East Midlander would be the biggest of his three-year career.

Though the local is hotly-tipped to retain his crown, Concepcion has been wrote off before - only to come roaring back with an unexpected victory. The 30-year-old had lost four on the spin going into his fight with then-16-0 Mancunian puncher Matthew Hall but blew his feared opponent, who'd go on to win the Commonwealth 11st belt, away in just 120 seconds.

And last time out, on the back of a brace of inside-the-distance defeats, the blonde-haired banger destroyed Matt Hainy for the Area title in his first fight at middleweight - decking the Derby man in rounds three, five, six and nine before the referee intervened in a contest that was up there with the best in Britain in 2011.

Yet he knows that defeat in this ten-rounder could bring the curtains down on his nine-year journey that has never been short of excitement. "At this stage of my career and with a British title fight in the offing, i can't afford to lose," he admitted. 

"There's always a few options around but, in truth, where can i go if i don't win this?" asked a former two-weight Midlands Area champion and British and Commonwealth 11st title challenger, 18-9 (11), who won his first 11 paid outings [eight quickly] and holds victories over soon-to-be Lonsdale Belt challenger Max Maxwell and Kevin Hammond. "I'm too proud to be a journeyman.

"I've got to go in there and tear the belt away from him. That's what i did against Hainy last time out and i'm going to repeat the trick against Blackwell."

Newly-focused David targeting best of British at three weights

Paul David believes a change of gym has given him new focus.

The English super-middleweight champion from Northampton has severed his ties with the Ingles in Sheffield and now operates out of Johnny Eames' [pictured] TKO gym in London believing the best is yet to come.

He gets the chance to show his new polish in a six-rounder with former Prizefighter light-heavyweight champion Travis Dickinson on a Sky Sports-televised, Frank Maloney-promoted show in Aberdeen on February 25 - and he's predicting a painful night for the unbeaten puncher.

Tall, loose, fleet-footed, awkward and with a sizeable dig in his 10oz gloves, David boxed only once in 2011, a routine points win over Billy Boyle in June, and since winning the English 12st title with a seven-round knockout over Nottingham's Tyrone Wright at the tail-end of 2008 has only seen action on three other occasions - and they were all on the same night in June 2010's Prizefighter.

David reached the final that night but the former Midlands Area light-heavyweight boss, 13-5 (5), has seen fight after fight fall away, including a tasty-looking British title eliminator with Paul Smith and a rematch with the man who controversially out-pointed him in that Prizefighter final, Patrick Mendy.

But he believes a win over the ten-fight undefeated County Durham boxer in nine days will set him on his way to future showdowns with one of a trio of British champions: super-middle George Groves, the winner of the light-heavyweight scrap between Tony Bellew and Danny McIntosh or, if the opportunity arises, Shane McPhilbin at cruiser.

And though Dickinson has beaten three Midlands-based fighters - Hamed Jamali, Hastings Rasani and Llewy Davies - Paul seems unperturbed and seemingly only interested in what's ahead. "I saw him earlier in his career and didn't think too much of him. 

"I was surprised when he won Prizefighter and though he's been taking care of business against the Midlands boxers he's faced, i'm a lot better than anyone he's ever been in with before," David confidently boasted.

"After I've dealt with Dickinson i'm after a British title fight - and i don't mind if that's at super-middleweight, light-heavyweight or cruiserweight, which looks weak and open," roared an avoided 27-year-old who was capable enough to push current WBA Interim world champion Brian Magee all the way in just his seventh paid fight.

"I'm focused, eager to fight and Dickinson is going to find out just why I've been avoided for so long next week," he coldly added.

Frustrated Keane returns to action next month

Undefeated Chris Keane returns to the ring next month looking to put 15 months of misery behind him. 

The former ABA champion from Walsall didn't box in 2011 but gets the chance to impress when he appears on the undercard of his ex-amateur rival and recent sparring partner Shane McPhilbin's defence of his British cruiserweight title.

McPhilbin puts his belt on the line for the first time against big-punching former WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli on a PJ Promotions and Frank Warren-promoted, BoxNation-televised bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on March 23 - and Keane is hoping to reach the same level in the next 18 months.

Formerly handled by Barry McGuigan and Matchroom, Keane [pictured above, bottom right] is now looked after by Frank Warren and Errol Johnson, and hopes his new promoter's contacts can secure him regular outings and opportunities in an exciting-looking division that appears wide open and full of young talent.

Though inactive since a closer-than-anticipated six-rounder with Sheffield binman Carl Wild in December 2010, the Paul Hudson-trained 26-year-old has kept himself in decent nick and ticked over in several gyms around the Midlands - even helping Shane McPhilbin prepare for his Lonsdale Belt-winning scrap with Leon Williams in January. 

And Keane's sharp, fast lead has secured him four paid wins in as many outings [one inside] and his six-rounder - six miles down the round from his Walsall home - will be a decent rust-shredding exercise that, he hopes, will set him back on course to title fights. 

He said: "Cruiserweight is open at the moment and i want to be up there competing with the likes of McPhilbin for the British title," admitted an ambitious Black Countryman who lost to the Nottingham banger in the vest but then went onto lift a national title.

"It's been a frustrating couple of years for me," he continued. "Actually, it's been frustrating since my pro debut [in 2009], as i injured myself just after that and was out for ten months. But after three fights in 2010 I've had nothing since and watched other people race ahead of me and your head starts to drop a bit.

"I'd like to fight every four to six weeks and start moving up the ladder. But as long as i stay busy and keep winning then i have every faith in my ability to not only reach British level but to go beyond it."

Brave crowd-pleaser Harrison calls it a career

Black Country crowd-pleaser Dean Harrison has called time on his six-year paid career. 

The Wolverhampton light-welterweight was decked and shockingly taken out inside two minutes by John Watson in the opening-round of Prizefighter at his city's Civic Hall on Saturday night - meaning he lost his fourth contest on the bounce.

For a neat-boxing stylist who won his first 12, was good enough to fight for the British title and to twice engage in contests in Las Vegas it was the heaviest hint that it was time to hang up his gloves.

But despite a rocky previous two years the 28-year-old bricklayer can look back with pride on a 23-bout [16 wins, five inside, and seven defeats] journey that saw him wear Midlands Area and International Masters straps, as well twice contesting English 10st titles and the Lonsdale Belt. 

It's never been dull - and it was evident it never would be from day one.

Harrison had a tougher-than-expected scrap with Joe Mitchell on his pro bow in 2006, which didn't look likely after sending his Brummie opponent to the floor with a furious body assault in the opening three minutes. But heavier Mitchell fired back and pushed the touted first-timer all the way before going down 38-37.

After that, however, 'Deano' breezed through his opponents. Kristian Laight [twice], Baz Carey and Daniel Thorpe were all accounted for over four without dropping a single round. And though he had to climb of the floor to halt tall, awkward Judex Meemea in front of the Sky Sports cameras, durable threesome Johnny Greaves, Jason Nesbitt and Rakhim Mingaleyev were all widely-outscored over six.

Then in December 2007, along with stablemate Martin Gethin, Harrison thumped Ramon Guevara to a five-round defeat at the MGM Grand. In truth, the Errol Johnson-trained Midlander was punch-perfect that night. He followed that up with another stoppage, this time at a packed [as always] Wolverhampton Civic Hall, over wild-swinging African Alex Brew, who was broken down and rescued in seven.

Hammer-fisted Gary Reid was brought to his fortress to give the popular local his first real acid test - and he passed it with an eight-round points nod that looked wider than the 78-76 margin handed down by John Keane. He mixed it in close with the noted body puncher and out-boxed him on the outside to control matters for a large majority of the 24 minutes.

Dean suffered his first defeat five months later, controversially outpointed by Scott Haywood in an West vs East Midlands ten-round showdown for the English title. Both traded on level terms for most of the contest but it was Derby's Haywood who was handed a 97-96 nod in a tight bout that was shown on Sky Sports.

The International Masters belt was strapped around Dean's waist a fight later, though, after forcing normally-sturdy Chris Long to retire after eight. Though the official reason was a shoulder injury, Harrison had, in truth, handed out a savage one-sided beating and it was a mercy stoppage. 

And in spite of being taken out in four by future European champion and world title challenger Paul McCloskey for the British belt in 2009, Harrison gave a solid account of himself and seemed to be getting the better of the early stages of the 12-rounder. But he was sent sprawling late in the first and halted three sessions later. 

At that stage, though, Dean's record read a none-too-shabby 14-2 (4) and he was fully-expected to regroup and mount another charge at the best domestic men at light-welterweight. Yet his career never really recovered, surprisingly stopped in three by erratic southpaw Darren Askew two bouts later. 

Still, he looked at his brilliant best when taking out champion Ben Lawler with a picture-perfect right hand in just 135 seconds to capture the Midlands strap in 2010. Now with Manchester-based Lee Beard, who had a brief spell training Ricky Hatton, he looked fit, hungry and ready to fulfill his promise. But that was to be his last victory.

Nigel Wright was dropped but clambered to his feet and unanimously outpointed the Wolverhampton craftsman in his second crack at the English title, world-class American Mike Alvarado forced him to retire after four at The Mandalay Bay, and then he surprisingly lost a four-rounder to decent journeyman William Warburton in October. Then came the Watson defeat at the weekend.

But there are more important matters in life than boxing, and Harrison had a none-too-ideal lead-up to the popular Matchroom-promoted event in his home city. His first son, Dustin, was born three months prematurely on February 4 and though in reasonable health will spend the next 12 weeks in hospital. It's little wonder his showing on Saturday was so tepid. 

"To be honest, i've struggled with making 10st for about two years," conceded the ardent Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter who always brought a sizeable following with him, irrespective of venue. "I can't seem to get any fights at welterweight so that's me finished.

"I can look back and feel pride with the things I've achieved - winning a couple of titles and boxing in Vegas. Those are the type of things you don't forget. But I've got my son and wife to think about now and i wan't to be there when he grows up.

"But i'd just like to say thank you to everyone who's ever supported me. It's meant a lot, it really has," he added.