BOXING: World bid next for Josh Warrington| Luke Campbell off the canvas to triumph| Carl Frampton in at the double

Josh Warrington strengthened his chances of fighting for a world title after earning a convincing victory against Patrick Hyland in Leeds.
Winner: Josh Warrington celebrates victory at the First Direct Arena, Leeds. Picture: Danny Lawson/PAWinner: Josh Warrington celebrates victory at the First Direct Arena, Leeds. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA
Winner: Josh Warrington celebrates victory at the First Direct Arena, Leeds. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA

The Leeds featherweight, whose Irish opponent’s only two previous defeats came at world level, stopped Hyland in nine rounds to maintain his undefeated record.

A second knockdown in swift succession, following a hurtful barrage in the ninth, caused Hyland’s corner to throw the towel in at the same time referee Ian John-Lewis chose to wave the fight over.

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An earlier knockdown towards the end of the eighth - the culmination of the aggressive Warrington’s work-rate - had already left Hyland at risk.

On the undercard, Hull’s Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell had to survive a knockdown to earn a unanimous decision over Argenis Mendez of the Dominican Republic.

There were further victories for heavyweight Dillian Whyte - via a routine unanimous decision over the previously-undefeated David Allen - Frankie Gavin, Ryan Burnett and Gamal Yafai.

Gavin stopped Croatia’s Ivo Gogosevic in the sixth round and is expected to next face Sam Eggington, who defeated Daza Usher inside the distance.

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Promising bantamweight Burnett defeated Mexican Cesar Ramirez over 12 rounds, recording a unanimous decision victory.

Yafai also went 12 rounds - and for the first time in his career - to defend his Commonwealth super-bantamweight title against Josh Wale, again via a unanimous decision.

Tyrone Nurse, meanwhile, earned another unanimous points decision, over Tommy Coyle to retain his British super-lightweight title.

Carl Frampton became a two-weight world champion with a majority decision victory over Leo Santa Cruz in their WBA featherweight title bout in New York.

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Former super-bamtamweight champion Frampton, fighting for the first time at 122lbs, gave an assured, composed performance to stun his unbeaten Mexican opponent and score a 23rd professional success.

Judge Guido Cavalleri scored the contest 114-114 but Frank Lombardi (116-112) and Tom Schreck (117-111) ruled in favour of the Northern Irishman, giving him the belt his manager Barry McGuigan won in 1985.

Frampton was well drilled from the start, producing the sharper punches to lead on all three judges’ cards by the end of the third round.

However, Santa Cruz - who won the title in August last year and was making his second defence on Saturday night at the Barclays Centre - settled down and had a productive sixth round.

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Frampton, roared on by the majority of the supporters inside the Brooklyn venue, did absorb some punishment against a man well known for his intense work-rate.

Yet the Belfast fighter continued to look assured until the closing stages of the fight, when he was particularly tested by a right hand over the top from Santa Cruz in the penultimate round.

Both men seemed to tire in an even final round - but the verdict went to Frampton, giving him a title McGuigan won more than 31 years previously at Loftus Road when he defeated Eusebio Pedroza.

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