Sam slams Cornish’s history hopes

BIG FIGHT SPECIAL

GARY CORNISH’S dream of making history was left in ruins last night after a heartbreaking points loss to Sam Sexton.

The Meadowbank Sports Centre is due to demolished soon but the venue was shaking to its foundations as the two went toe to toe for 12 rounds before the Englishman won on points.

It was tough on Cornish who was attempting to become the first Scot to win the British heavyweight title and left everything in the ring against the experienced Norwich scrapper.

It was Sexton who got the unanimous decision, though, on all three cards. Cornish was on the front foot early on, with the 6ft 7ins Scot using his height and reach advantage to good effect in a cagey start from both fighters.

The Highlander looked comfortable but a clash of heads caused concern towards the end of the opening round as it opened a nick above the Scot’s left eye.

It was an awkward wound and forced Cornish to step up his attack and he caught Sexton with a big right in the second to establish his dominance in the centre of the ring.

The scrap sparked to life in the fifth when the Inverness hero sent Sexton spinning after another huge right – but he also took one on the button soon after.

The Englishman came out swinging in the next and caught Cornish with a cracker to burst the Scot’s nose.

It was becoming a wild scrap as the Highlander bashed Sexton into the corner in the seventh but his rival came back again.

Both men were looking to launch big guns and occasionally landed as each searched for a knockout blow.

Cornish was shaken to his boots by an overhand right in the ninth and took another left flush on the jaw but held on.

The pair continued to collide in shuddering fashion in the later rounds and it was the Scot who produced the flourish but failed to convince the judges.

Earlier Tommy Philbin dug deep against Rhys Pagan to claim the Celtic supermiddleweight title. The Edinburgh ace won on points over 10 fiercely-fought rounds to take his record to 10 wins out of 10.

Meanwhile, unbeaten featherweight Stephen Tiffney continued his impressive rise up the ranks with a comprehensive victory against experienced Troy James.