Brook vs Spence Jr: Jamie Cox defeats Lewis Taylor who is withdrawn by doctor
Sunday 28 May 2017 01:55, UK
Jamie Cox won a unanimous decision against Lewis Taylor, who was pulled out by the ringside doctor in the ninth round due to a cut caused by an accidental head clash.
Scores of 88-83, 88-83 and 87-84 enabled Cox (22-0) to claim the vacant WBA intercontinental super-middleweight championship on Saturday at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.
An accidental collision of heads in the opening period opened a cut above Taylor's eye, and despite bravely battling on, the injury became too severe with three-and-a-half rounds remaining.
Unbeaten southpaw Cox prepared for this bout by sparring with Kell Brook, the evening's headliner, and he was able to bully Taylor until the doctor intervened.
Cox is the mandatory challenger to Rocky Fielding's British title but insisted afterwards that he would target the winner of George Groves vs Fedor Chudinov.
Andy Townend (19-4) will move up a weight after beating Jon Kays (22-6-1) via second-round stoppage.
The Commonwealth super-featherweight title remained vacant after Townend failed to make weight on Friday, and he claimed afterwards that he was finished with the division.
"I'm gutted I didn't make the weight," he said. "But this is a new thing and this is just the start - lightweight here I come."
