Saturday 26 November 2016 22:19, UK
Martin J Ward successfully defended his British title at Wembley Arena on Saturday, while Ben Hall came up short against Carson Jones.
Super-featherweight Ward (16-0-2) survived a late scare as he edged out Dundee's Ronnie Clark (17-3-3) to make the first successful defence of the coveted British belt.
The unbeaten Essex-based boxer continually worked his southpaw opponent around the ring and despite being floored in the 10th, earned a unanimous points verdict with scores of 115-113, 114-113 and 1116-112.
Ward took a few rounds to adapt to Clark's come-forward southpaw style, but as he snapped out the left jab in the second, the champion soon found his rhythm.
The amateur pedigree of Ward started to become clear as he boxed well on the back-foot, landing some swift combinations before moving out of range, making his Scottish foe miss.
As the fight reached the later stages though, Clark began to gamble more, landing regularly on several occasions and a short, powerful left on the inside had Ward on the canvas.
After surviving Clark's late rally, Ward said to Sky Sports afterwards: "He caught me in the 10th round with a good shot, but I used my experience and got through it. It was a little bit of a lethargic performance.
"I've got bigger and better plans for the future, but this was the right fight for me at the right time."
Meanwhile, there was a differing result for fellow Essex fighter Ben Hall (9-1-1) who fell short as he faced a mighty step up in class to face experienced American Carson Jones (40-11-3).
It proved a step too far for Hall as dangerous puncher Jones - who famously gave Kell Brook a scare in the first of their two fights - found a stoppage victory in the sixth round to win the vacant WBC International Silver super-welterweight title.
Hall started the fight confidently and showed that he was not going to be overawed by the occasion, landing a succession of shots to the head and body as he relaxed into proceedings.
Jones though appeared happy to ride and march through the shots coming his way and returned fire with fire in the second, working a sharp right to the body as he cut off the ring.
The right hand continued to find the target for Jones as the rounds went on, while the same hand of Hall appeared to get injured in the fourth, leaving a painful grimace on the face of the 23-year-old.
Trainer Peter Sims gave his valiant charge a few more rounds to try and change the result of the fight, but despite a spirited attempt, the towel was thrown in from the corner in the sixth.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, a disappointed Hall said: "I must have broke it. I'm pretty sure, I'm absolutely heartbroken. I hope I didn't let anyone down."
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