Saville edged out of Masters title

The reigning Midland champion had Youssef Al Hamedi struggling in the third and fourth rounds, first a flurry of jabs forcing a standing count before a left hook left him having to answer 10 in the fourth.

But a clash of heads left the hometown boy nursing a swollen eye in the fifth round, a wound which got worse as the fight wore on.

It left Saville defending rather than attacking for the latter stages, which cost him all important round points – despite his controversial opponent also having one docked for use of his head.

And referee Shaun Messer eventually scored it one point against 'the Wednesfield Bomber' at 96-95 over 10 rounds, a decision which angered the crowd and the beaten contender at the final bell.

Saville said: "He caught me in the eye with his head, it turned into a dirty fight, he could see my injury and moved to capitalise on it.

"For the last four rounds, I could hardly see a thing. But I had already dropped him and gave him a standing count, so had I not done enough?

"The referee's decision is final and we should all respect that, but I don't agree with it."

In chief support, Wolverhampton's first female world boxing champion Lyndsey Scragg has her eyes on much bigger fish after disposing of Big Brother's Angel McKenzie at the Civic last night.

The reigning Global Boxing Council super featherweight champion saw off her opponent from the reality television show by a comfortable 79-75 decision over the distance.

Her Russian opponent proved a tough nut to crack – not much coming forward, but enough cunning and guile to leave her opponent chasing over eight rounds.

The hometown fighter took little from the experience but it served a purpose, as the win could have secured another title shot abroad before the year is out.

Scragg suffered heartbreak in Canada after being outpointed by WBC champion Jelena Mrdjenovich last November, a defeat she has vowed to avenge ever since.

And a cryptic message from the 30-year-old indicates that opportunity will present itself sooner rather than later.

She said: "Angel as a very awkward fighter, she is not very attractive but she poses problems, it was one of those you just have to box to get over and done with.

"I need something a bit more challenging that revs me up the right way. The more quality that is front of you, the better you perform.

"There is something in the pipeline, watch this space."

Essington's Ben Wilkes led the undercard by outpointing the experienced Matt Scriven.

The 22-year-old won every round and never stepped back once in his first fight at four, three minute rounds, taking the decision at 40-36.

Scriven, a 69-bout veteran, is regarded as the next stop on the road to advancement for the young middleweights of today, and Wilkes passed the test at the Civic.

The youngster had been pencilled in to face Luke Osman, but the ever dependable Scriven filled in at the last minute after the Welshman pulled out.

Wilkes said: "I wanted Matt to begin with, he's been in there with some good opponents and he never hurt me at all.

"These are the tests I want, I am not in boxing for the money or for anything else, it's about what I think is best."

Also on the bill, Aston's Chris Truman took on Swansea's Craig Dyer and won every round at 40-36, while Portobello's Myles Holder scored maximum points to beat fellow Swan Chris Brophy at 60-55.

Worcester middleweight Alex Strutt took showing of the night honours, taking apart Scunthorpe's Davey Jones with a wind-from-the -sails hook just one minute and 59 seconds into the first round.

Elsewhere, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, Walsall's Christopher Keane made a winning start to life as a professional with a comprehensive demolition of Hungary's Viktor Szalai inside two rounds.

Fighting at cruiserweight over four three's, Keane put his opponent down clean three times inside the distance for an impressive stoppage.