Terry Flanagan came through a stern test from Stephen Ormond to rip the WBO European lightweight belt from the Irishman and move within touching distance of a world title shot later this year.
However the win will be tarnished by Ormond, who was disqualified for persistent use of his head in the 10th, in what was already a close fight. Ormond seemingly pressed the self-destruct button after losing a point in the ninth, and it looked as if he had got himself thrown out.
Flanagan started well and looking a class act for the first two rounds, but Ormond caught up with him in the third and was in control for the next few rounds, dragging Flanagan into a fight he didn’t want or need to be in.
Ormond tried to boss the exchanges, working on the inside, but Flanagan still landed enough to keep it close. However, the Manchester man, who failed to make weight the first time the day before, wasn’t moving as well as he had in the past.
But, he got back into it in the seventh, when he looked to be tiring and it was really nip and tuck until Ormond seemed to give up and lost his head. Flanagan gets the title, but more importantly it was an eliminator for the world title and Flanagan could well fight for it next.
The WBO title will be vacated by Terence Crawford, so he could take on Juan Diaz, possibly in Las Vegas in his next fight. Maybe it’s a bit too early for him, as he hasn’t been matched particularly hard yet, but you write Terry Flanagan off at your peril.
In the chief support for the evening, Tommy Langford moved to 12-0 in the pros after he stopped Wayne Reed in the fifth round. Langford, who enjoyed a stellar amateur career, looks to have adapted well now in the pro ranks and can’t be far too away from title shots now.
Langford breezed through the first two rounds and he started to go through the gears in the third, giving Reed plenty to think about. The fourth round was brilliant for Langford who sunk Reed with body shots twice, but the brave Sheffield man fired back to survive the round.
Langford finally capped off an excellent display, as he pummelled Reed through almost the entirety of the fifth, before referee Robert Chalmers stepped in to save him from anymore punishment and hand Langford a career best victory.
Welsh super-featherweight Craig Evans also remains unbeaten as a professional, after a good win over Jacek Wylezol. Evans looks ready for a title shot and boxed well on his way to a wide 80-73 points win after eight rounds.
The Blackwood fighter was overlooked by Liam Walsh, who instead chose Joe Murray to defend his belts against later this month, and he is desperate for a significant fight. He does need to be stepped up now as his career enters a crucial time.
Former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Jamie Cox returned after another long lay-off to record a sensational knockout of Alistair Warren in the first round of their scheduled eight round fight.
Cox, who won the Commonwealth belt back in 2011, has moved up to middleweight and he looks exceptional, dropping Warren with a big right in the first 20 seconds. But the stoppage was superb, as a huge left hand from the Swindon man, flattened Warren again to hand Cox his 18th pro win.
Exciting midlands fighter Joe Costello enhanced his reputation further with a first round stoppage of Sandor Horvath. Costello put him down three times, although one was ruled a slip before referee Robert Chalmers stepped in to save Horvath from more punishment.
On the undercard, Andrew Robinson, who lost last time out to Frank Buglioni in November, got a 60-54 points win over Christian Hoskin-Gomez, whilst Ricky Summers won by the same score over Mitch Mitchell.
There was a first round stoppage win for Raza Hamza over Jack Heath and Jay Harris also won by stoppage, only it was the third round for him over Stefan Slavchev.
Finally, there were four round points victories for Simon Barclay over Paul Morris and former Matchroom talent Ryan Aston, who was cut, over Simone Lucas.
