Sykes shows Yorkshire grit to retain British title

Belfast’s Carl Frampton boxed a controlled fight from centre ring to stop hardened Venezuelan Oscar ‘El Sapo’ Chacin in the 4th round.

The super-bantamweight prospect managed by former world champion Barry McGuigan, controlled the fight in the early rounds from a tight solid defence, and opened a cut on his opponents left eye in the 3rd round.

Chacin proved to be a game foe for Frampton and his persistence and durability gave the unbeaten Irish man a good fight, before his bravery turned to pain and he had to succumb to Frampton’s heavy digs in the fourth. Referee John Keane was forced to step in and call a halt to proceedings towards the end of the round.

Good things are being said about Frampton and he didn’t disappoint in this is latest outing which took his unbeaten run to 9 fights. He was calm and composed in everything he did although the fight did get a little messy at times and the ref had to warn both.

A bloodied nose to Frampton seemed to spur him on to finish the job and his hard hooks to head and body of El Sapo’ were taking there toll and the grimace on the Venezuelans face and with the bad cut over his left eye the end looked nigh. It was and ref Keane had another look at the cut and waved the fight over.

Tyrone Nurse

Local favorite Tyrone Nurse was pushed all the way over six rounds by Swansea battler Damian Owen but eventually took the fight on points 58-57.

Nurse 21, is a tall rangy light-welterweight with a good long reaching jab and this in mind Owen tried to rush him early and rough him on the inside but Nurse used his tools to good effect and controlled the fight from the outside while looking to throw a swift right uppercut as Owen came in.

Owen, who had not fought since July 2009, looked in very good shape despite his layoff and as a result was able to fight on the front foot at a good pace. Owen continued to stalk and call his man in, and when in range whacked away at Nurses head and body, but the Huddersfield stylist covered up well, showing improved defensive skills.

Tyrone Nurse (left) and Damian Owen

In the 3rd round a good right hand bounced off Owen’s head, sending the spray out of the ring, which then got the Tyrone Nurse Barmy Army fans in full voice cheering him on. But Owen, who had come for a good old Yorkshire tear up himself was inspired and his very good left hook to the body hit Nurse hard as Owen came on.

In the fourth round Owen was able to draw Nurse into his fight and both stood toe to toe, Nurse with his back to the ropes traded with the Welshman in his version of the rope a dope, the round finished with both trading meaty blows.

Nurse went back to his more effective boxing stance and a double jab right hand, knocked the head back of Owen who was always willing to be in fighting range.

Nurse you felt would have been more effective throwing combination punches more often, but he was content to throw single jabs and one twos, they were scoring but the good long jab he has can open up an opponent, where he must then take advantage and not admire his work.

Owen was able to knock Nurse out of his comfort zone at times, but both finished the fight strong and Nurse had done enough good work in the fight with cleaner shots to see the referee raise his arm to the frustration and objection of Owen, who thought he had won the fight.

Tyrone Nurse is a good prospect with plenty of skills a good long jab that he must sting his opponents with and use it to his advantage, working on his combination punching and throwing more shots can improve his unbeaten 9 fight run and is a very interesting addition to the British light-welterweight party.

Alastair Warren

Huddersfields Alastair Warren drew over 4 rounds against busy Latvian Pavels Lotahs, the referee had it two rounds a piece 38-38.

Lotahs hurried and pushed the 23 year-old Yorkshireman for every minute of each round, but Warren was able to land his own decent shots, showing a good punch variety inside.

In the last round Warren was looking to land a big right hand as Lotahs came marauding in. Warren was never able to find the shots to deter the Latvian and he deserved his draw on away ground in a good competitive fight.

Middlesbrough’s Paul Truscott had his first fight of the year, winning comfortably over 6 rounds – 60-55 against Hungarian Zsolt Nagy.

other undercard results to follow