Saturday 15 April 2017 22:00, UK
Robbie Barrett snatched the British lightweight title away from Scott Cardle with a barnstorming points win.
The Yorkshireman was put down twice in the first half of the fight, but fought back to go the 12 rounds for the first time and take the majority decision.
Cardle went into the SSE Hydro in Glasgow needing one more win to gain the coveted Lonsdale belt and although he was on form during the early stages of the bout, he was cut badly midway through and lost the 114-114, 114-112, 115-113 cards.
Both fighters made a lively start but by the second - when Barrett was judged to have gone down after a short right hook from Cardle - it seemed the Celtic fan would be following suit and retaining his title.
Barrett then stepped up a gear in the third and fourth, his left landing with regularity to body and head, with 'Scotty' attempting to gain control on the front foot.
In the fifth, Barrett was again judged to have hit the floor, this time a bodyshot the decisive punch.
Cardle continued to go to the body, but with Barrett's crisp combinations and his comfort boxing at range, the challenger came back in fine fashion.
By the sixth, Cardle had a deep cut over his left eye and in the seventh was caught by a sweet double from Barrett that had him pinned on the ropes.
In the next two rounds, Cardle continued to be caught, with Barrett's superb counter punching causing further damage to the 27-year-old's bloodied left eye.
Cardle was desperate to get that crucial win and, in the 10th, he bit on his gumshield and went to work again, his bodyshots still sneaking in and even suggesting that Barrett's longest outing might take its toll.
But Barrett stayed at range and avoided any close calls and by the 12th, his cleaner shots provided the perfect finale to an explosive encounter, which saw him become the new British lightweight champion.
