Norton outclasses Steeds

Steeds: Limited

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Rob Norton claimed the vacant British cruiserweight title with a unanimous points victory over Micky Steeds at the Meadowside Leisure Centre.

Former heavyweight Steeds surprisingly looked the smaller of the two and the Londoner found it difficult to get past the awkward Norton, who at 36 was giving up 11 years to the younger man.

But Norton oozed confidence from the outset and his ungainly southpaw stance proved too much for his limited opponent, who reluctantly took a count in the sixth round although was clearly not hurt by a cuffing right hand that caught him off balance.

The veteran was in control at halfway as he bossed the exchanges on the end of a long jab, beckoning Steeds forward and landing with a chopping left hand as he came in.

Steeds did catch his opponent with occasional straight rights but was never close enough to follow up the shots as Norton shook them off with aplomb.

Such a clash of styles meant the fight was never easy to watch, with the referee constantly separating the combatants from the clinch.

But with Steeds starting to tire Norton began to open up, landing at will in the 10th with short left jabs and some heavy rights as both fighters went for the knockout blow.

The light-punching Steeds was never likely to have the tools to undo Norton's good work on the cards though and it came as little surprise when the judges scored it 119-108, 118-110 and 118-109.

It was a crowning victory for the 15-year pro Norton, who lost a points decision against the useful Mark Hobson on his only previous attempt at the title in 2003.

"To be fair I've waiting around a stupid amount of time. I stuck with this game when many would have given up," the victor told Sky Sports. "I know it wasn't a good fight but I've only had two or three fights in as many years.

"I'm not in it for the adulation, the titles and the money, but I love the sport and love the training, perhaps I could have trained a bit harder because I felt a bit tired, I don't know if it was because my timing was off and I'm a little bit rusty or what.

"I need to fight more often and hopefully I can make a quick defence and I'll box better, I'm sure."