Sam Gilley made a successful second defense of his English super-welterweight title as he claimed a ten-round decision over Sean Robinson on the Azim-Charlton afternoon bill at Alexandra Palace, London.
Gilley – who was watched from ringside by close friend Olly Murs – was largely in control of the fight and dropped Robinson in the sixth round with a big right hand.
After a close first three rounds as both tried to force an opening, things sprang to life in the fourth round when Gilley landed a left hook that rocked Robinson, who was also cut over the left eye.
Gilley, 28, pressed his way forward in the fifth round and early in the sixth he dropped Robinson with a big right.
Robinson came back well in the ninth round, when he caught Gilley with a body shot and a left hook, but that seemed to spark Gilley into life.
Robinson also came forward in the final round as he tried to turn things around but he never looked likely to force a stoppage.
Bob Williams and Howard Foster had it 98-91, while John Latham had it 97-93, as Gilley improved his record to 15-1.
Hassan Azim, the older brother of Adam, extended his unbeaten record to five fights with a six-round decision over Nestor Amukoto, of Namibia, at welterweight, referee Chas Coakley scoring it 60-54.
Michael Hennessy Jr got back to winning ways after seven months out of the ring as he stopped James McCarthy in the fourth of a super-welterweight six-rounder to improve his record to 10-1-1.
Rhys Edwards claimed a 60-54 decision from referee Coakley as he beat Alex Kabore at super-featherweight.
Rangy super-featherweight Jimmy Lee moved to 3-0 as he won a four-round decision against Jahfeius Faure, referee Sean McAvoy scoring it 39-37. Lee suffered a cut from a clash of heads in the final round.
The super-middleweight ten-rounder between Lerrone Richards, the former European champion, and Zak Chelli was cancelled at late notice. Richards fell ill on Saturday evening and passed out in the bathroom of his hotel, hitting his head. The unbeaten Richards had given up his IBO title – won last December - having spent the year inactive after splitting with Matchroom.
Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 - covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.