Jason Welborn suffers a shock defeat

Welborn was surprisingly defeated by journeyman William Warburton at Walsall Football Club on Saturday night, writes James Eley.

Paid pugilism was again the order of the day in the Stadium Suite at the Banks's, which witnessed Warburton's 19th victory from 123 pro bouts.

Rowley Regis' Welborn was only back in action for the six-rounder because he'd destroyed Michal Voyska in 56 seconds - his first welterweight bout for over three years last month.

But the 30-year-old was abject and paid the price, outpointed by one round for his first defeat which wasn't a title fight for 10 years.

He really struggled with the long reach of Warburton, who stays out of trouble and has only failed to complete the distance three times.

A couple of overhand rights gave Welborn heart, but he took some striking body shots from Warburton in the final round who claimed a well-earned 58-57 victory.

There was no such fate for Walsall's Martin Gethin, but the former British lightweight champion had to work hard for his points success.

'The Quiet Man' was in action for the first time in 14 months up at light welter, rolling over the plucky Alexander 'Fonz' Anderson 39-37.

Gethin, 32, controlled most of proceedings but also absorbed some powerful hooks. After an injury-riddled time on the sidelines, he'll be pleased with the rounds.

Another Black Country fighter, Sam Evans, was frustrated despite his whitewash points win over European visitor Teodor Stefanov.

Wednesbury's Evans had coach and boxing legend Ricky Hatton in his corner, with 'the Hitman' co-promoting with Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing.

The 20-year-old's work was somewhat stifled by the slippery Bulgarian, who was well-beaten. The decision was 60-53, with Stefanov losing a point for excessive holding.

Big heavyweight Nathan Gorman, another Hatton charge from Nantwich in Cheshire, got the job done early with the night's only stoppage.

The heavy-handed teenager, 19, finished off Kamil Sokolowski in the fifth with a result of his follow up attacks, after a sharp body punch had put him down for a count he answered.

A crushing uppercut had him back-pedalling, before a second body blow forced the finish. The Plymouth-based Pole had already visited the canvas in the third.

The card was completed by another two Midlanders in Kieran McLaren and Chad Sugden, who also picked up points victories.

McLaren, from Stoke-on-Trent, extended his pro record to eight outings unbeaten without reply against Michael Mooney, using his movement to record a landslide 40-36 result over four.

Sugden, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, featured over six and gave Vaidas Balciauskas a hard time over another points shut-out.

The former world kickboxing champion, 21, held the ISKA world middleweight crown and remains the youngest to ever win a belt from that organisation.

Damaging body shots and classy combinations from '2 Slick,' who recorded his second victory as a super middleweight, completely outclassed the Lithuanian.