RARE STOPPAGE

Learmonth becomes only second man to halt Sharp, writes Jacob Kilbride

THE career of rugby-league-player-turnedprofessional-boxer Mick Learmonth continues to gather pace after he scored an extremely rare stoppage win over Darryl Sharp.

Leeds prospect Learmonth, who held a distinct height and size advantage, started methodically and patiently behind his jab and his educated pressure repeatedly had Manchester’s Sharp retreating to the corner. By the midpoint of this six-rounder, Learmonth was breaking down the veteran and his scoring single shots had turned into regular hurtful combinations.

After 50 seconds of the fifth, with the visitor throwing almost nothing back, a Learmonth left hook to the body had Sharp down on one knee and the evening’s referee Andy Brook immediately waved off the fight.

Learmonth becomes only the second fighter to stop Sharp in 88 contests, with the world-rated Liam Williams being the only other man to do so.

Mark Bateson’s bill may not have gone ahead were it not for Bradford’s Darren Tetley, who stepped into a hastily-arranged exhibition with Leeds debutant Josh Wisher at the Elland Road Pavilion. You would have been forgiven for not realising the fourrounder was an exhibition, such were the weight of the shots thrown.

Both fighters left the ring satisfied, with Wisher’s supporters having seen their man in action and Tetley having banked more rounds ahead of further title fights.

Meanwhile, a pair of Leeds first-timers did make their genuine pro bows and both were given tough work-outs.

First up, Lenny Davidson won a thoroughly hard-fought 40-37 decision over former British title challenger Sean Davis of Birmingham.

Jack Bagnall won by the same margin against Bolton’s Ben Thomas, showing good character to persist having been seriously rocked before the bell in the second and cut under his left eye a round later.