Bloodied but still smiling after gruelling battle
Hughie Wilson took Lasha Guruli over the weekend
You can't keep a good man down.
And Hughie Wilson still had a smile on his face after a bloody, but close defeat to Frank Warren favourite Lasha Guruli.
The South Yorkshire super lightweight went the distance with the 2024 Olympic bronze medallist and was competitive throughout the bout at Birmingham's bp pulse LIVE Arena, on Saturday night.
While he ended up on the wrong side of referee Peter McCormack's scorecard (75-77) he showed enough mettle to suggest a third loss in 14 outings won't stop the 26-year-old moving up the super lightweight domestic levels.
Bookies had seen the 30-year-old from Georgia at around 1/12 to 1/25 favourite, but Doncaster's Wilson, managed by Ryan Rhodes and trained by Steve Nettleship in Sheffield, finished the eight rounds despite the facial injury.
It was business as usual for the explosive Rotherham light heavyweight Taz Nadeem.
The identity of his opponent was only announced late for the Black Flash Promotions bill at Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester.
And it was something of a surprise to see Chesterfield debutant Bill Gayles step up for the task.
Nadeem stopped the newcomer a minute into the scheduled six-,rounder, with referee Jamie Kirkpatrick happy to put an end to the pummelling on the ropes.
The one-sided victory was Taz's sixth professional knockout.
*Meanwhile Joe Hayden's confidence is sky high after completing 10 rounds with Sheffield world champion Dalton Smith.
The 26-year-old from Wadworth, Doncaster, had previously been invited to spar with Smith over two six-round sessions at Steel City, as part of the WBC king's first title defence on October 24.
Smith's camp felt the exercise was useful enough to invite him back for a longer session.
Hayden's manager Dave Allen was delighted with the latest workout.
"More great sparring for Joe Hayden with Dalton Smith - to share a ring for 10 rounds with a world champion does wonders for a kid," said Allen.
He added that it had been six years since Joe had arrived for training on Allen's back garden patio.
Two years later Hayden turned professional and has 24 wins to his credit.
His next fight will be on the Smith v Alberto Puello undercard at Sheffield Arena.
Allen has plenty of optimism that his man can progress towards high levels in the sport.
"We’re nearly there now, get the business done in a tough fight next month at Sheffield (against York's English welterweight title contender Will Harrison) and I’m hoping he joins the big boys in the British title mix," said Allen.
Hayden says it has been a privilege helping Smith prepare for the 12-round defence.