HEADLINE ACT

Terry Dooley is ringside to see Macmillan step into the breach

KIERAN FARRELL’S show at Bolton Whites Hotel was stripped down as the scheduled main event – a Central Area super-welterweight title fight between Evaldas Korsakas and Danny Craven – was axed, as well as bouts featuring Nathan Farrell and Ryan Oliver. Instead, Reece Macmillan headlined against Lee Connelly, and the Morecambebased boxer overcame a bloody nose to earn a deserved 78-74 win over the visitor from Killamarsh. Referee Kieran Mccann officiated.

Bolton’s Ben Thomas fought to a 38-38 draw against York’s Harry Matthews. Thomas looked to have done enough to win, only for referee Chas Coakley to hand Matthews rounds three and four, after scoring the first two for Thomas. Khaleel Majid also hails from Bolton and was more successful than Thomas. He boxed his way to a victory over Croatia’s Antonio Horvatic, bundling his rival over in the fourth en route to a 40-35 verdict from Mr Mccann.

Colne’s Sam Larkin made a winning debut, but Bristol’s Ricky Leach gave him a tough time in the third, winning that session on Mr Coakley’s card. Larkin, though, ran out a 39-37 winner. Meanwhile, Lee Clayton went back to his hometown of Heywood with a win over Leeds’ Russ Midgley. Clayton pasted Midgley, who was never in the contest. Mr Coakley scored it 40-36.

Blackpool’s Adam Little put 18 months of inactivity behind him by flooring Sheffield’s Nathan Hardy with a counter right in the third, then closing the show at 1-52 of the sixth and final round, after putting Hardy under intense pressure. Mr Coakley refereed. Elsewhere, Bury’s Ben Ridings had a struggle in the final frame against Zygimantas Butkevicius (Hull via Lithuania), who won that session on Mr Mccann’s card yet lost by 39-37.

THE VERDICT Macmillan wins after being bumped up the bill.