**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Friday night at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, England, Frank Maloney promoted a fight night headlined by three title bouts, billed as ‘War of the Roses’.

Salford boxer Jamie Moore faced Ryan Rhodes of Sheffield for the European light middleweight title, St.Helens boxer Gary Davies made the first defence of his British bantamweight title against Londoner Ian Napa and Stoke‘s Chris Edwards made his second defence of the British flyweight title against Mongolian-born Shinny Bayaar.

Jamie Moore (Salford) v Ryan Rhodes (Sheffield)
12 x 3 European Light Middleweight Title

Reigning European champion Moore starts off busy from the first bell, keeping former two-time British light middleweight champion Rhodes on the back foot. Rhodes - having the shorter reach - just misses his target a few times with sweeping shots.

Moore dominates from centre of ring, while Rhodes struggles to settle in to this first round. The Sheffield man goes for the body of ‘Mooresy’ but Moore looks determined, ploughing through with more punches - landing a hard shot which rocks Rhodes’ head from side to side. More...

The ultra-competitive British scene has given birth to some of the more popular and successful boxers on the world stage in recent years but with Joe Calzaghe calling it quits recently and Ricky Hatton possibly nearing the end of his incredible career, a new pack of British fighters hope to replace these icons.

While David Haye is the most successful of the 'new breed', there is one light heavyweight in particular who could be ready to move above domestic level: Nathan Cleverly.

A few days shy of his 22nd birthday, the Welshman stands atop the 12 stone 5 division in Britain, firmly in control after defeating Tony Oakey for the Commonwealth crown last October as British Champion Dean Francis has expressing the desire to move up to cruiserweight and Clinton Woods is once again in position to challenge for the IBF title at the tail end of his own career.

Friday night at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon, England was a good case in point as Cleverly made the second defence of his Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title against Kenyan slugger Samson Onyango in what would turn out to be another masterful performance from the young Cefn Fforest man.

A smiling Cleverly entered the ring wearing a blue bandana with the name ʽClevʼ printed on it and continued to grin while stood in the ring!

Admitting heʼd be ʽdisappointed not to get a stoppageʼ, Cleverly gets straight to work, whipping out the straight left and right. He lands two snappy straight rights in succession to the face of Onyango in the first minute of the round. More...

Last night at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes there was a good card headlined by promising Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly.

The 21 year old Welsh phenom retained his title for the first time by knocking out Kenyan southpaw Douglas Otieno in the fourth frame of a scheduled 12 rounder.

Cleverly improves to 14-0 (4) while Otieno sees a 15 bout win streak snapped to fall to 18-2 (8).

Manchester light middle Matthew Hall, 21-1 (14), won his fifth bout in a row when he finished off Jason Rushton, 18-8 (3), in the sixth.

Two former Hatton brothers stablemates were also on the bill as middleweight Paul Smith, 25-1 (14), outpointed Ciaran Healy, 9-10-1 (2), and super feather Steven Bell, 16-1-2 (5), outpointed Shaun Walton, 4-40-3 (1), in six round bouts.

Prospects Anthony Crolla, Stephen Smith, Tony Bellew and Liam Smith all were winners on the card as well.

Last night at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, British Welterweight Champion Kell Brook retained his belt for the first time with a crushing first round stoppage over former titlist Kevin McIntyre and Commonwealth Super Feather kingpin Ricky Burns stopped challenger Yakubu Amidu in the seventh.

30 year old McIntyre had ridden a three bout win streak into the contest including a pair over fellow Scot Kevin Anderson but against the fast handed 22 year old Brook, the Paisley Postman had no answers.

Brook, 18-0 (11), gave the local man a lashing, knocking McIntyre, 26-6 (8), down three times before the bout was stopped before the first round had run it's course.

Coatsbridge southpaw Ricky Burns, 25-2 (6), won his tenth in a row by stopping Ghanaian slugger Yakubu Amidu, 16-2-1 (16), to keep the Commonwealth Super Feather crown.

Ex-British Welter Champ Michael Jennings, 34-1 (16), stayed busy with an eight round points verdict against Jason Rushton, 18-7 (3), while promising light heavy Kenny Anderson, 9-0 (7), stopped veteran Hastings Rasani, 20-38-2 (16), in four.

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

On Sunday afternoon, Steve Wood of VIP Promotions hosted a seven fight bill at the newly built Leigh Sports Centre in Lancashire, England.

Top of the bill saw Thomas "Tommy" McDonagh of Manchester face Jason "The Rocket" Rushton of Doncaster in a six round light middleweight contest. It was a good first round for taller McDonagh, who had Rushton under pressure in the opener, but McDonagh seemed to get frustrated as the contest wore on and didn't look happy between rounds.

Both men waited for their opponent to throw a punch - McDonagh the straight right and Rushton the left. But, it was a good 60-54 points win for "Storm Boy" McDonagh, who improves to 32-1-3 (6).

There was the usual big following for super middleweight Martin Murray of St. Helens as he came up against Joseph Sovijus of Slovakia. But it was a short night's work for the man from Merseyside as he scored a first round knockout over the Slovakian, notching up his ninth win, three by KO. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Frank Maloney Promotions put on a competitive undercard to support the British Super Featherweight title fight between Andy Bell and Chirs Edwards on Friday night at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.

Chief support came from a short lived encounter between Danny Reynolds of Leeds and Jason Rushton of Doncaster. Fighting for the Central Area Light Middleweight title - this was to be Reynoldsʼ first ten-rounder, however, it wasnʼt going to get past the first round! More...