New Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sam Sexton silenced the Odyssey Arena with a stoppage victory over Martin Rogan in Belfast.
Sexton snatches Commonwealth heavyweight title at Odyssey Arena
New Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sam Sexton silenced the Odyssey Arena with a sensational stoppage victory over Martin Rogan in Belfast.
The fascinating heavyweight contest was stopped deep into the eighth round when the ringside doctor deemed that Rogan's left eye was too badly swollen for him to continue.
The stoppage came just seconds after Rogan had his Norwich-based opponent dazed and on the verge of defeat in the centre of the ring following a flurry of heavy punches.
However, with Sexton stood wobbling in the ring with his hands down, Rogan, instead of delivering the knock-out blow, looked at referee Dave Parris in the hope that he would stop the contest.
The defeat was Rogan's first in his professional career and Sexton, as well as taking the title away from the Northern Irishman, took his record to 12 wins in 13 fights.
Unbeaten
The tone of the fight was set in the early stages and it was clear that Rogan was in for a tough defence of his prestigious Commonwealth crown.
Sexton stunned the partisan crowd in the second round with a sweet right which nearly floored the Belfast taxi driver, and he continued his domination in round three.
As the fight progressed Sexton continued to outbox the champion - a shattering upper-cut in the fourth clear evidence of the challenger's power and accuracy.
Sexton shook off several hurtful shots while gradually working Rogan over and in the middle rounds the unbeaten Belfast man's left eye was nearly closed.
Referee Parris called for the doctor to inspect the injury on several occasions but let the fight continue.
Inquest
Early in the eighth round Sexton looked out on his feet after soaking up sustained pressure but after being given chance to recover when his gumshield fell out, the fight turned decisively when the doctor ultimately ruled Rogan was unfit to continue.
While the decision looked the right one, it was met with passionate disapproval by the partisan Belfast crowd.
Speaking after the fight, the victorious Sexton told
Sky Sports 2: "He caught me and I was rocked but I kept my composure well. I trained too hard for this and I wasn't going to lose this one."
Rogan, however, was critical of the refereeing and has demanded an inquest into Parris' performance.
He said: "Sam didn't stop me - fair play to him though, no sour grapes from me.
"I think the British Boxing Board of Control seriously need to look into the refereeing because Sam got public warning after public warning three times every round and got away with it."
