Mutley downs Latvian at the Civic

Young Mutley's quest to regain the British Welterweight title continues as he battled to a points win over tough Latvian number two Sergejs Savrinovics at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Mutley had to be alert to battle past the spirited Latvian, who was by no means scared, as the two slugged it out for the full six rounds. Savrinovics showed his mettle as early as the second round, bouncing straight back from a powerful three-punch combo from the West Bromwich man.

The final round saw Savrinovics clinging on towards the end, with Mutley unleashing body shots with his opponent bouncing off the ropes. He managed to stay up, only to lose a 60-54 decision after the final bell had sounded.

Mutley said: "He was tough, no doubt about it, but I expected that. A lot of the fighters from that part of the world are incredibly hard to wear down. I still felt I was worth the win."

Mutley admits that he has one eye on an enliminator bout with John O'Donnell, which forms part of a four-man tournament to determine the mandatory challenger to the British Welterweight title. The fight must take place before the end of November.

He said: "I always show my best on the big stage. Regaining the title and kicking on from there, well, it is my legacy. Nothing is going to stop me this time."

Popular Coseley southpaw Jamie Ball continued his promising start to life as a professional boxer with a points win over Peter Dunn.

In only his second pro bout, he was given a stern test from the experienced Pontefract veteran, but when Ball got into his stride, there was only ever going to be one winner.

With lighting quick feet and a long range of jabs, Dunn spent most of his time on the defensive, one particular flurry leaving his opponent heading back towards the corner to regroup.

The most impressive of Ball's offence came in the fourth and final round, another flurry of punches knocking Dunn off balance and onto his knees, but the ever tough opponent was up after a two count. Ball won the decision 39 points to 37.

He said: "He was no idiot. It was a tough test and just the sort that I needed. I was the quicker mover and always looking to attack. I afforded him respect but I was looking to fight my fight."

Ball now goes on to to fight in front of the Sky cameras, in his third bout, on September 26.

For sheer drama, look no further than Joe Skeldon's return bout after a nine-year absence against another tough cookie in Barnsley middleweight Jason Smith.

Skeldon found himself on the canvas in the first minute, waylaid by a jab that knocked him off balance rather than hurting him. This spurred the Tipton slugger into action, cheered on by a hugely vocal support.

Smith was with him every step of the way. The two laid into each other with tombstone like hooks over the top for the majority of the six rounds.

Entering the sixth round, the fight looked to be going to the distance. Then Skeldon, from a crouching position, lofted a devastating punch upwards. Smith got his guard up, only for a sledgehammer like shot to go in between his guard and square into his face.

Cut from the top of the eye, the referee called for the bell, ruling Smith in no fit state to continue.

Skeldon said: "I had to get my head together after the first round. That bit of experience came in and I started to pick my shots as the fight wore on. I felt I was worth the win.

"But credit to Jason. As return bouts go, that was a tough test."

In other results from the card, Brierley Hill's Martin Gordon battled to a draw with Chris Thompson, Stourbridge's Scott Evans beat Peter Buckley in a 40-36 decision and Halesowen's Kevin McAuley fought to a narrow 39-37 points win against a difficult opponent in Steve Cooper.

Also, heavyweight action saw Birmingham's Neil Perkins see off Howard Daley in a 40-36 decision and a great flyweight bout saw James Mulhern beat David Keogan by 40 points to 37.