Nick Blackwell beats brave Jack Arnfield to keep middleweight belt
Sunday 15 November 2015 08:58, UK
Nick Blackwell retained his British middleweight title with a unanimous points win over Jack Arnfield in Bristol.
Arnfield proved a tough opponent for Blackwell, despite only taking the fight at eight days notice after Elliott Matthews was forced out when he suffered a cut in training.
He made a solid start, using his extra height and reach to work behind a solid jab and rocked Blackwell with several accurate right uppercuts, but 'Bang Bang' - making the second defence of his crown - had the greater power and dropped his opponent with a vicious left hook to the body in the fifth.
Arnfield refused to budge and even a nasty cut above his left eye failed to subdue him as he deservedly went 12 rounds for the first time in his career.
Blackwell (19-3-1-KO8) was a convincing 117-111, 117-110 and 115-112 winner on the cards but acknowledged he had been in a tough fight.
"I knew it wasn't going to be an easy fight - but I didn't think it would be that hard," he said. "I hit him with some good shots, but he's a tough kid and he took them. I'm still learning and it's going to take time.
"I'm going to spar Spike O'Sullivan next week ahead of his fight with Chris Eubank Jr and then I'll be back in the gym to learn a few more things."
Team GB amateur star Andrew Selby continued his bright start in the professional ranks with a second-round stoppage of Hungarian teenager Joszek Ajtai.
Flyweight Selby - the younger brother of IBF world featherweight champion Lee - was much the bigger man physically and even though Ajtai came into the contest 10-0, he was completely out-gunned.
A body shot dropped him in the opener, before a sustained attack in the second was enough to persuade referee Ian John Lewis to halt it after 2:07.
"As soon as I landed the jab he knew I was too strong for him and he went on the back foot," said Selby.
"The more I fight the better I will perform so hopefully I will be out again in December. I want to break records and the plan is to be going for a world title after 10 fights."
Unbeaten heavyweight Hughie Fury - cousin of Tyson - improved his record to 17-0 after a second-round knockout win against journeyman Emilio Zarate.
And Young Fury (6-1, KO3) - brother of Tyson - outpointed Imantas Davidaitis over four rounds.
Wladimir Klitschko v Tyson Fury, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on November 28, is now available to order via the phone and online.
