Gary Cornish loses out to Sam Sexton for British heavyweight title

Gary Cornish was unable to be the first Scot crowned British heavyweight champion after losing to Sam Sexton on Friday night.

The 33-year-old Sexton from Norwich secured the points verdict from all three judges after surviving a late onslaught from the Inverness fighter at Edinburgh's Meadowbank.

The fight was originally due to take place five months ago but Sexton was forced to withdraw a week before the fight with a back injury. He had not been in the ring since last July, with Cornish only fighting once in that time - a points victory over Kamil Sokolowski.

Cornish's only previous defeat was by Anthony Joshua when their encounter lasted 89 seconds in London two years ago.

A clash of heads in the opening round slowed down proceedings and despite Cornish picking up a cut over his left eye he used his height, reach and weight advantage and looked the more lively.

Sexton was on the ropes in the fifth after a brutal hook from the Scot, but he recovered well and delivered a flurry of impressive shots in the sixth.

Cornish desperately poured forward in the closing round with a 20-second assault, but his English opponent seemed the fittest as he held on to win the British heavyweight title.