Natty Howell proves a nightmare for opponent

The Brummie, who lives in Rowley Regis but grew up in nearby Nechells, was back on home turf for Saturday's bout at Aston Villa Football Club.

The 27-year-old light middleweight took on the capable Chris Jenkinson for four rounds in the Holte Suite on promoter Tommy Owens' latest show, writes Craig Birch.

Jenkinson nearly forced a draw against Howell's stable-mate Daniel Breeze in Birmingham two weeks previously. Both are coached by Jon Pegg.

But the hard-man from Bolton was well-beaten this time, having taken a count in the third round. He suffered from double vision after the fight and will spend the next month on the sidelines.

Howell worked well off the jab and punched bluntly, which really started to take effect in the third. Jenkinson was trapped in the ropes, waiting for the next blow.

He was expected to feint and then throw his shot, but Howell instead went up for the right uppercut the first time and landed bang on the button.

A hurt Jenkinson took a knee and gave himself a chance to recover, with referee Kevin Parker asking him to show what he had left rather than pull him out.

Jenkinson got on his bike and tried to stay out of trouble, which got him to the final bell. Parker had it 40-36 to Howell.

He said: "I'm my own biggest critic, sometimes, and I could have disguised my shots a bit better. I maybe let him know about my power a bit too early. I'd established my jab quickly.

"He was a tough man and not many have him for their third fight so, obviously, I'm pleased with the result. He comes to fight, so I had to perform. I did that and he's lucky he wasn't stopped."

Howell will next be in the ring for Owens' Christmas show, at the second city's Holiday Inn Queensway, on Thursday December 17.

An upgrade to six rounds is expected early on in his paid career and it should come to pass there. Howell doesn't foresee any problems.

He said: "I'm ready for the step up, I did the four rounds again comfortably, as I did on my debut, and I wasn't even blowing at the end of it.

"I needed the distance here, really, as my previous fight was over in a round. That was a great result, but you don't learn much from that."