Sports Network hosted yet another thrilling card tonight but it was bittersweet for the promotional powerhouse as the London firm saw one of it's leading lights, Michael Jennings, go down in defeat in the same ring in which their teenaged domestic mega star Amir Khan enjoyed the greatest victory yet of his burgeoning career. At the Nottingham Arena, British Welterweight Champion and WBO number one ranked challenger Jennings was widely expected to employ his considerable skill-set to stave off the earnest advances of unheralded challenger Young Muttley. But no one told the 29 year old from Wednesbury, who unabashedly tangled with The Chorley Lurcher" and came away with a close split decision triumph. Jennings made the tactical error of neglecting his sharper craftsmanship by engaging the hammer fisted Muttley in close quarters through much of the matchup, thereby handing the challenger the means to best deliver his arsenal of hooks and uppercuts. It seemed as if Jennings might be taking over for good in the later rounds but the harder shots of Muttley never permitted the Northern man to run the table nor ultimately retain his belt.
Amir Khan put on an explosive display in just his fifth professional venture, utterly spearing
one of the many Belarussian fighters that seem to be flooding England this week, Vitali Martynov, during a surge of lightning quick one-two combinations. The more experienced tourist sought to come forward at the outset but was instantly sorted by the tightly accurate attentions of Khan, who struck gold with a piercing right hand that dropped Martynov hard and fast to the canvas, effectively ending their brief moment on the dance floor. The Bolton wonder will return to the ring next month on Sports Network's much looked forward to promotion at London's ExCel Arena on Feb. 25th, headlined by the mouth watering Danny Williams - Matt Skelton British Heavyweight title fight.
In other action, Derry Matthews stayed perfect by stopping Steve Chinnock in six to win the vacant English Featherweight strap, ex-British Welter titlist David Barnes returned with a fourth round icing of Fabrice Colombel at light welter, promising welsh welter Tony Doherty outpointed the hard as nails Ernie Smith over six and Leicester light middle Martin Conception saw his bad luck streak continue as he was surprisingly stopped for the second consecutive time.
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