Boxing In Britain: Saturday Results

London’s historic York Hall was the scene of WBU Featherweight titlist Derry Matthews’ successful title defense on Saturday, as the lanky Scouser turned back the aspirations of challenger Matthew Marsh by eleventh round stoppage.

Brave Marsh, 8-1 (0), had his moments but was a bit green to be put in with the more experienced Matthews, 19-0 (10), and that was made evident round after round as the WBU Champion used his advantages in experience, height, reach and power to gradually break down the Londoner before going for the kill at 2:25 of the 11th frame.

A pair of super feathers were also on the bill, with Steve Foster Jr, 23-1 (16), of Manchester stopping France’s Jean Marie Codet, 16-20-5 (7), in the first and Scotland’s Ricky Burns, 17-2 (4), getting a fourth round stoppage over another Frenchman Frederic Bonifai, 33-30-4 (11).

Heading north to the Metrodome in Barnesley, former British Light Middle Champion Ryan Rhodes, 37-4 (25), predictably stopped massively overmatched Nigerian Olufemi Moses, 3-2 (0), in the second.

Crossing over the Irish Sea, at the Park Avenue Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, hard as nails multi-weight division local hero James Gorman, 8-10-1 (3), won the Northern Ireland Area Light Welter belt with 98-95 points victory over the game Gary Hamilton, 1-6 (0).

Promising heavyweight Martin Rogan, 7-0 (4), stayed perfect with a second round stoppage against Radcliffe Green, 4-20-1 (3).

Leeds light middle southpaw Lee Murtaugh, 23-9-1 (0), posted a six, two minute round win over Tye Williams, 5-11-2 (4).