Jamie McDonnell added the British bantamweight title to his European and Commonwealth belts with victory over Stuart Hall.
Jeffries claims points decision on return to action
Jamie McDonnell added the British bantamweight title to his European and Commonwealth belts with a unanimous points decision over Stuart Hall in Doncaster.
The hometown fighter's technical superiority in a keenly-contested fight was reflected in scorecards which went 115-113 116-114 116-113 in his favour.
Hall's noted punching power appeared to weigh on McDonnell's mind in the early rounds as he ceded the centre of the ring to his confident opponent.
But having absorbed several short rights to the head McDonnell grew in boldness, slipping in and out of reach to deliver neat and, at times, truly eye-catching combinations.
By the 10th round a knockout was Hall's only chance of retaining his title, and the previously-unbeaten 31-year-old gallantly took the fight to McDonnell.
But the Yorkshireman had the last word in nigh-on every exchange and saw the job through, to move a step closer to a world title bout.
Having regained the Lonsdale belt he first won against Ian Napa in January last year, McDonnell paid tribute to Hall's strength and determination after his foe went the 12-round distance for the first time in his career.
"It was tough but I felt in control," he said. "He was a strong presence. He's physically the strongest I've been in there with - Stuey Hall constantly comes at you."
Still there
"He was loading up on some big shots for my head. I thought after three or four rounds, 'He's going to start slowing down', but he didn't at all, did he? I thought he might start fading but in the last round he was still there."
Nevertheless McDonnell insisted he was largely untroubled by Hall's incessant advances.
"I don't think he really hurt me with any shot. I had one to the body where I felt a little tickle, but apart from that he didn't really hurt me."
Earlier in the evening, Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries returned from a nine-month lay-off to claim an eight-round points win over Paul Morby.
Jeffries suffered a serious cut in his last outing, a second round knockout of Tommy Tolan in Belfast last December, and after a composed start to the light-heavyweight contest some untidy action in the middle rounds left him bleeding above his right eye once more.
Nevertheless, with Morby showing little in the way of attacking ambition, the 26-year-old was able to close out a comfortable victory as referee Howard Foster awarded him every round.
