A career-best for new champ Ghent

Coseley's Richard Ghent halted the never-stopped Martin Gordon to lift the International Masters welterweight title in a Black Country derby.

His Brierley Hill-based opponent retired at the end of the seventh round at Wolverhampton Civic Hall yesterday, after taking a body shot to the ribs during the session that took all the wind out of him.

But there was heartbreak for West Bromwich welterweight Wayne Downing, who was stopped in the third for the British Masters title by the relentless attacks of Coventry southpaw Sean McKervey.

The 30-year-old was out of a year-long retirement for the fight and announced the decision to hang his gloves up again after the fight.

But at the fledgling stage of his career Ghent had the day of his life, starting as he meant to go on in just his sixth professional fight against the experience of the 13-bout pro Gordon.

The Priory Park amateur had just the one stoppage on his record beforehand, blasting out Jason Thompson in three rounds at Dudley's The Venue last October.

But the 22-year-old pulled out a champion punch after taking pretty much all of the seven rounds, with an uppercut then flailing hands that left his opponent with a black eye to match his hurt ribs.

Gordon instructed his corner to pull him out at the end of the round.

But it was a sad story for the popular Downing, who saw his fight fall apart just one second from the end of the third round.

The Black Country fighter had already hit the deck twice after controlling the session before the turning point.

Downing got caught in the ropes trying to dig out a right hand up that left him open for the shot, but was up at the count of eight.

But referee Shaun Messer waved him off despite the impending bell after the second knockdown, after going down again to an uppercut that didn't help an already opened cut on his left eyebrow.

On the undercard it was another big ask for Coseley light middleweight Jamie Ball, in there with the resilience of Leicester fighter Lester Walsh.

But 'the Black Country Bully' never let him in the fight over four rounds, taking every round in a pleasing win for the 25-year-old.

And a star was born in Lee Glover, who wiped the floor with 46-fight Slovakian pro Elemir Rafael in his first outing in the paid ranks.

Down at super bantamweight, 'the Tipton Slasher' made a statement on his long awaited professional debut.

The former ABA Midlands champion nearly dropped Rafael with his first punch, later letting rip with a barrage of punches that saw his opponent given a count in the opening round.

Glover finished the job in the second, connecting with four unanswered punches before referee Shaun Messer stopped the fight with 48 seconds left of the session.

Another man who enjoyed a good day at the office was Stourbridge's Kevin McCauley, who took the unbeaten record of Telford's Kieron Gray in a compelling opening bout at super middleweight.

Referee Terry O'Connor scored it 39-37 to the home fighter.