ONE TO WATCH

Mills underlines his potential with an eye-catching victory. Matt Bozeat reports from ringside

DERBY’S polished Myron Mills captured the vacant English lightweight title on Clifton Mitchell’s show at Rollerworld, dropping Marcus Ffrench four times on the way to a fourth-round stoppage (scheduled for 10).

The Mills right hand – a quality punch – did the damage. The first time it connected, about a minute into the fight, it sent shivers down Ffrench’s legs and the Birmingham veteran only just got through the opening round after being dropped twice. He was over again in the second, buzzed by a right in the third and referee Mark Lyson waved it off at 1-23 into the next after Mills decked Ffrench with a quickfisted flurry. Only 22, Mills, trained and managed by his uncle, Clifton Mitchell, looks one to watch.

The eight-rounder between Derby left-hander Alex Fearon and Oldbury’s Dwain Grant was closer, referee Kevin Parker scoring 77-76 to Fearon.

Derby’s heavy-handed Harry Scarff dished out a beating to Yeovil’s winless-but-game Bryn Wain, Mr Parker waving it off at 1-24 into the fourth and last round. Wain took a count in the third.

West Bromwich’s Jack Summers

countered off the front foot effectively to hand Nottingham’s rangy Siraj Ahmed his first loss. Mr Parker scored 40-37.

Doncaster’s Ryan Stevenson was too sharp for Leicester’s capablebut-rusty Simon Henry, back at 34 after three years away. Stevenson had Henry on the floor in the last with body shots and was a 40-36 winner for Mr Parker.

The show-opener brought a win for Derby debutant George Farrell.

Mr Parker rescued Poland’s willing Przemyslaw Binienda at 2-27 into the second of a scheduled four after a second knockdown.

Farrell appeared to be tiring before he found the shot he had been looking for, a right-hand counter. The punch dazed Binienda and Farrell pounced, punching him to his knees. A second knockdown – and the finish – soon followed.

THE VERDICT Onwards and upwards for new English lightweight champ Mills.