Sunday 22 October 2017 00:21, UK
Anthony Fowler went the distance for the first time in the paid ranks as he outpointed Laszlo Fazekas in Belfast.
Despite the Liverpool super-welterweight getting a nasty cut to the forehead in the opener, Fowler found a home for crunching body shots throughout as he dominated the six-round contest winning via a score of 60-54 and improving his record to 4-0.
The 2016 Rio Olympian, nicknamed 'The Machine', made a customary aggressive start to the fight, marching across the ring on the first bell and bringing his spiteful left jab into play, using it to work openings to the body.
In spite of the impressive beginning, blood started to trickle down the face of the 25-year-old after a nasty head clash in the corner gave Fowler something to contend with.
The Liverpudlian refused to let the cut interrupt his rhythm though and he continued to whip in some heavy shots to the body in the second.
In the next period, Fazekas started to land some defiant hooks of his own, but the momentum and quality remained with the former amateur standout.
'The Machine' upped the ante in the next few, loading up on heavy combinations to both the head and body, but Fazekas was proving a tough and game opponent.
Fowler swung away with ferocious hooks in the concluding round, but despite the heavy onslaught, the Hungarian survived to hear the final bell.
Speaking after the contest, Fowler said: "He was tough, I knew he would be cute and clever, it's exactly what I needed at this time in my career.
"I respect him because this is a hard job.
"I was a bit too patient tonight, I would like to go through the gears more. I just couldn't find that one shot to get him out of there."
Earlier in the night, super-lightweight Tyrone Mckenna came through a hard-fought encounter with Renald Garrido, winning the contest via a score of 96-94.
The southpaw was given a tough test by Garrido, but Mckenna done just enough to extend his unbeaten record.
Belfast cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy made light work of Peter Hegyes, earning a first-round stoppage, while there were also early victories for David Oliver Joyce, Joe Fitzpatrick and Gary Cully.
Now operating at light-heavyweight, Craig 'Spider' Richards also extended his unbeaten record with a stoppage of Norbert Szekeres.
