Jay Harris rebounded from his first professional loss, in an unsuccessful bid for the Julio Cesar Martinez’s WBC Flyweight title last time out, by outscoring Marcel Braithwaite over ten rounds of high quality action at Super Flyweight in Wakefield on Sunday.
Harris (18-1, 9 KOs) whose Commonwealth title was not on the line after a check weight issue for Braithwate (9-3), was just a little bit sharper over the distance against the impressive Merseysider.
The 30-year-old took a deserved unanimous points win by scores of 98-92, 98-93, and 97-93, but the scores were slightly harsh on Braithwaite, who rocked Harris in the fourth round with a big left hand.
Undefeated Welterweight Michael McKinson ended the unbeaten record of Martin Harkin, scoring three knockdowns en route to a unanimous decision win.
Harkin (13-1, 5 KOs) tasted the canvas as soon as halfway through the opening round, as a cuffing left hand bundled the Scot over.
It looked more like a push, but there was no dispute just 15 seconds gone in the second, as a right hook clipped Harkin, who went down again in what was a nightmare start.
McKinson isn’t a noted puncher, with only two early wins in 18 outings, but he dropped Harkin for a third time in round five, as a left to the body that strayed low, followed by a left hand to the top of the head dropped the 28-year-old again as he dropped to a knee.
None of the knockdowns were particularly convincing, and Harkin did his best to come into the argument, catching McKinson (19-0, 2 KOs) on occasion to keep the Portsmouth man alert.
QUICK HIGHLIGHTS 👀@mikeytheproblem 🆚 Martin Harkin
FULL RESULTS & REACTION ➡️ https://t.co/mz36XJ68fV#MTKFightNight #TeamMTKGlobal #Boxing #TheProblem #MichaelMcKinson #MartinHarkin #McKinsonHarkin pic.twitter.com/I2xbwSSxPJ
— MTK Global 🌍 (@MTKGlobal) October 19, 2020
McKinson, who is ranked eighth by the WBO, coasted down the stretch, as the knockdowns he had in the bank already had him in a big lead, as well as the dominance he had enjoyed throughout the fight.
The fight went to the cards, where Steve Gray scored 100-88, Howard Foster 99-88, and John Latham 97-91, all in favour of McKinson.
Former IBF Bantamweight champion, Paul Butler continued on to what he hopes is another world title shot, by pitching a near shutout of the game Ryan Walker over eight at Bantamweight.
Walker had been stopped in five by McGregor at the end of August, and Butler (32-2, 15 KOs) was eager to impress, forcing Walker (11-3, 2 KOs) to hold on in the opening round as the Chesire man made a swift start.
Butler went through an impressive repertoire of punches, and through the gears superbly.
The 31-year-old winged in some eye-catching body shots in the later rounds, but Walker bravely made it to the final bell, where the gulf in class was proved in referee John Latham’s 79-73 scorecard in favour of the former world champion.
‘Irish Drago’ Paul McCullagh (1-0, 1 KO) made his debut, stopping Ben Thomas (2-4-3, 1 KO) in three rounds of a scheduled Light Heavyweight four rounder.
