Walsall's Christopher Keane loses eliminator
Walsall's Christopher Keane lost vital ground in the race for the British cruiserweight title with a razor-thin eliminator defeat away from home.
The Midlands title holder travelled to Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre and into the back-yard of Southern counterpart Lawrence Bennett on Saturday evening.
That very same night, Ovill McKenzie unified the British and Commonwealth belts in Newcastle with a second round stoppage of Jon-Lewis Dickinson.
Keane was unable to capitalise in Wiltshire thanks to the judges, two out of three going with Bennett for his split decision win after a scrappy 10-rounder.
Mike Alexander scored it 96-95 in favour of Keane, but Jeff Hinds and Howard Foster recorded a super-wide 99-92 and 98-94 for Bennett respectively.
Keane, with double the pro experience of his opponent, had spent most of the 10 rounds trying to blast his opponent out of there.
Bennett jabbed his way to safety as Keane loaded up with right hooks which seldom found the target, forcing the West Midlander to switch hit.
Keeping his right hand down invited Bennett in to throw combinations as the fight sprung into life come the fourth round, but the cleaner work was still coming from Keane.
Bennett took the sixth round and pegged Keane back with the right jab and back-hand, countering reaction punches as he looked to attack.
A bicep injury, which had to be iced between sessions, hampered Keane's offence which forced him to sit back and wait for the final bell, ensuring the contest went to the cards.
