Max Maxwell loses British title shot

Birmingham's Max Maxwell was widely outpointed in his shot at the British light middleweight title against champion Brian Rose.

The two clashed in a rematch some 22 months from when Maxwell, before Rose won the title, left him face down in a sixth round knockout.

'Brian the Lion' swore revenge ever since and enticed the Jamaican-born Brummie back into the ring with a chance at his first national title.

And Rose got his own back with a unanimous points win at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday, in total command with all three judges.

The 27-year-old lost just one of the 12 rounds in their eyes with two of them having him nine rounds up, opposed to eight from the other judge.

The fight was fought at a brisk pace from the off. Rose, maintaining a high guard throughout, boxed well behind his jab.

A right uppercut snapped Maxwell's head back in round two, who did his best to disrupt Rose's smooth rhythm.

His plan was to force the champion to box at a pace he was uncomfortable with and get close on the inside.

Maxwell edged the third on work-rate alone, despite the majority of his shots hitting Rose's arms and gloves.

Rose went back to outboxing Maxwell off the back foot in round five but had to fight his way off the ropes.

That said, he didn't absorb many clean punches though and nullified Maxwell's attacks by tieing him up on the inside in round six.

Although Rose was edging the rounds he could never afford to relax and the pattern of the fight continued after halfway.

Maxwell waded forward but was picked off by Rose's crisper, cleaner and more accurate counters.

The longer the fight went, the more improbable a Maxwell knockout appeared, as his telegraphed shots lacked zip.

Rose even managed to briefly stop Maxwell in his tracks in the 10th with a sharp right hand.

Despite seemingly having the fight in the bag, Rose's corner told their charge that he needed to go out and win the 12th.

Maxwell was given the same advice and put everything into the final three minutes, bossing the first 60 seconds.

But Rose turned the tables and pummelled the challenger with some precise right hands to bank the session and make sure of the win.