Max Maxwell passes test for title shot

Birmingham's Max Maxwell got back to winning ways and secured the English title shot he hopes will serve as bait for new British champion Brian Rose.

Maxwell recovered from his controversial one-round defeat to Tom Doran, who was down in the same fight, with a deserved points win over Bristol-based tough Turk Rocky Shakir.

Last night's decision at the Holiday Inn came exactly seven months after the Doran defeat and his next fight will also be in Birmingham, at the New Bingley Hall on March 2.

The English light middleweight title, vacated by Rose after he became British champion earlier this month, will be on the line in the Jamaican-born Brummie's first shot at a national crown.

But Telford's Mark Lloyd is out of the running to be co-challenger as he is chasing a spot in the next Prizefighter, to be held at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on February 11.

It could now be a 'Battle of Brum' for the belt between Maxwell and the undefeated Nasser Al Harbi with 'Mad Max,' who knocked out Rose in May of last year, hoping a British title shot will follow.

He said: "I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I think I deserve a shot at something, I have come on a lot and have boxed most of the top 10 light middleweights in the country.

"I have been in there with the last three British champions in Sam Webb, Prince Arron and now Brian Rose.

"I dropped Webb, got a draw out of Prince Arron and knocked out Rose.

"Out of all of my boxing, the Doran fight was the hardest thing to get over, it was an eliminator and I wasn't even hurt, it left a sour taste in my mouth.

"I am feeling good and strong and I am ready for anyone, all I want is a fair crack. I would love a shot at the English title but the British is what I want.

"Hopefully, Brian Rose will want to come and avenge his only defeat, he got a voluntary crack at the British and he can take it personally if the wants."

There was more than fighting pride on the line for Maxwell last night – the British Boxing Board of Control could have refused to sanction his English title shot if he had lost.

Chakir is a former British Masters champion and gave Maxwell the odd reminder of his threat, the pick of which came in the form of a stinging right hook to the jaw that left its mark in the second round.

Maxwell settled as the fight wore on and landed his biggest shot just as the bell sounded for the end of the fifth session, a hammer of a left hand but Chakir stood his ground.

Blood had leaked from Chakir's nose earlier in the fight and Maxwell tried to capitalise as the contest drew to a close, his hand raised by 59-56.

The undercard of the four-fight dinner show marked the debut of Birmingham's Craig Cunningham, formerly of Warley ABC, who made his bow at middleweight against journeyman Duncan Cottier.

Cunningham utilised his right jab from a solid stance while looking for the big left hook and met with varied success against the slippery Cottier, who has only been stopped five times in 75 fights.

But there was a clear winner and it was Cunningham at the final bell, in a 40-36 shut out.

Fellow Brummie Calum Cooper spent most of his four-round contest shaking off Liam Griffiths, who clung on for the duration of the fight.

Griffiths was lucky not to be punished for persistent holding but still found his way onto two big left hooks to the jaw, one in the first round and again in the fourth, although he made it to the final bell.

Again, there was nothing for him on the card of referee Shaun Messer, scoring from ringside with Wolverhampton's Gareth Morris the man in the middle, in a 40-36 points call.

A boxing exhibition opened the evening, an all-Birmingham affair as John Connelly took on Dee Mitchell over three rounds.

Connelly had been due to face Griffiths in a pro fight but suffered a family bereavement the week before the show, so it was decided he would box a contest with no winner or loser.

Similar to 'skills' bouts in the amateurs, the fight was declared a draw with no need to score.

By Craig Birch

Follow Craig Birch on Twitter @Craig417