Tony Jeffries was taken to the scorecards for the first time in his professional career but took his winning run to four against the durable Artem Solomko.
Olympic medallist made to work by Belarus journeyman
Tony Jeffries was taken to the scorecards for the first time in his professional career but took his winning run to four against the durable Artem Solomko.
The Olympic bronze medallist had not gone beyond the second round in three fights since Beijing and was stepped up in class against the man from Belarus.
And the journeyman gave the 'Mighty Mackem' a real workout in his first scheduled six-rounder, forcing the Sunderland favourite to scrap for the first time in the paid ranks.
However, Jeffries will have learnt more in one night at the Seaburn Centre than the last three put together, frustrated as he was that he couldn't remove his stubborn opponent.
The light-heavyweight struggled to offload his powerful jab at times, rushing in on occasions as he looked to finish the job inside the distance.
But Solomko ensured it was not all one-way traffic despite Jeffries being the aggressor throughout.
The Olympian worked the body in an effort to soften up his 28-year-old opponent, who was sent reeling into the ropes on several occasions when Jeffries connected to the head.
But despite going all out for the stoppage in the sixth, Solomko denied the home favourite a fourth successive win inside the distance, although Jeffries was unsurprisingly given all six rounds by the referee.
Surprise retirement
Meanwhile, David Price, another Olympic medallist now making his way in the pair ranks, worked off some ring rust in a victory over Liridon Memishi.
The heavyweight - who took gold in Beijing last year - managed to get two rounds under his belt having not fought since a third-round stoppage of David Ingleby on debut back in March.
His German opponent had battled gamely over the six minutes of action but was then surprisingly retired on his stool.
"I wanted to be a bit more patient this time rather than try and bounce him out straight away," he said afterwards.
"I was a little bit nervous - but that's the same with me every time. If I fight this guy Vitali Klitschko I'd get the same kind of nerves."
Promoter Frank Maloney confirmed that the Liverpudlian would be staying active in the coming months following a lengthy spell out of the ring before this fight.
"I think he'll go all the way," he added. "He hasn't been in the ring for seven months. Tonight he shook off a bit of ring rust and he's out again next week, so he's nice and busy before Christmas."
