Big-hitting Lennox Clarke living his dream after lifting belts with stunning KO

Scotsman Hutchinson has been tipped as a future star of the sport ever since winning the world amateur youth title in 2016.

But he was out-powered by the outstanding Clarke who has now won 20 or his 22 professional fights with one draw.

Hutchinson started well enough and landed some early combinations.

But Clarke, who lost a split decision to Lerrone Richards for the same title 17 months ago, began to get closer to the Scotsman as the fight progressed.

And in the fifth round he bullied Hutchinson into the ropes and – as the 22-year-old pulled his head back – met him with a fierce right hook.

Clarke – nicknamed ‘Dangerous’ followed that up with a right and left combination that dumped Hutchinson heavily in the corner.

He hauled himself to his feet at the count of four but looked in desperate trouble and referee Bob Williams waved the fight off at 1:05 of the fifth round.

“This is a dream come true,” Clarke said.

“He is a sharp kid, but I knew I could take his best shots.

“I knew it was too early for him to step up against me.

“I knew he wasn’t enjoying it because he was tying me up.

“When someone doesn’t want to fight on the inside, you know they aren’t enjoying it.

“So we carried on doing what we were doing and broke him down. He wasn’t ready.”

On what has been a successful few days for the region’s fighters, Wednesbury-based BCB Promotions saw a number of their boxers secure high-profile victories.

Zach Parker put America’s Vaughn Alexander to the sword at the Copper Box Arena on Friday.

The 26-year-old picked up the vacant WBO International Super Middleweight title and secured his position as mandatory challenger to Billy Joe Saunders main WBO crown with a stunning second round stoppage of Alexander.

On the same card, Kingswinford’s Danny Ball defended his WBC International Silver Welterweight title against Sam Gilley.

Ball boxed superbly to record a points win over bookies favourite Gilley to retain his belt, and unbeaten record.

Elsewhere, Walsall-based Kearon Thomas suffered a points defeat against debutant Jason Harty on the Parker/Ball card on Friday.

Wolverhampton’s Clayton Bricknell was also defeated after falling to a points loss against Eithan James on Saturday.

On the same night, but in Gibraltar, Birmingham based Kane Baker appeared on the Dillian Whyte Alexander Povetkin Rumble on the Rock undercard.

It wasn’t to be for Baker though as he fell to a fifth round stoppage against fellow super featherweight, Youssef Khoumari.