Jack Flatley vs Harry Scarff moved up to headliner but falls short
The highly anticipated WBA International Super-Featherweight showdown between the silky southpaw smarts of Crayford’s classy Alex Dilmaghani and Nicaragua’s Two-Time IBF World Title challenger Francisco Fonseca was cruelly cancelled just hours before the clash was due to take place.
Nicaraguan Fonseca felt unwell in his dressing room just moments before the ringwalk and was pulled from the fight following an examination by doctors acting on behalf of the British Boxing Board of Control. Fonseca was reportedly vomiting before the fight and was judged unfit to enter the ring just half an hour before the ringwalk, but is now said to be safe and well back at the hotel.
The Hennessy Sports event, in association with VIP Boxing Promotions, at the Premier Suite, University of Bolton, still went ahead with unbeaten English super-welterweight champion Jack Flatley (15-1-1) moved up to be the headlining act of the live on free-to-air Channel 5 show.
In what should have been his chance to shine on the main stage, Flatley was outhustled and outworked by the challenger Harry Scarff (8-0), losing 96-94 and 97-94 twice on the scorecards.
When the final bell sounded, both boxers celebrated seperately, each convinced they had got the win, but it was Scarff who was that little bit better and busier over the 10 championship rounds.
Managed by Steve Woods of VIP Promotions, Jack 'Quiet Storm' Flatley is only 24-yars-old and will inevitably come back stronger following his first professional defeat. It was a close fight, very tough one to score but switch-hitter Scarff, who constantly switched to southpaw to frustrate the champion, was the right man to have his hand held aloft at the conclusion.
Harry 'Hammer Time' Scarff, 26 from Derby, looked great in only his eighth pro contest and first ever title fight, and is sure to be one to watch.