Barrett blitzes Alexander / Noble takes McAleese's '0'

Ryan Barrett picked up the International Masters lightweight title last night at the York Hall with an impressive first round stoppage of Mark Alexander. The Steve Goodwin promoted bill was labelled “It’s Personal” and believe me, between these two it was.

Alexander had a lot to live up to after his exhibition ring entrance where he was guided to the ring with a live rapper. Barrett used an Iron Maiden track for his highly charged ring walk. Both guys were fired up and started fast. Barrett (9st 9lb) came out aggressively behind his southpaw jab which landed with ease. Alexander (9st 8lb) was trying to get inside. Before the fight had settled in to any rhythm, Barrett threw a well timed right that landed flush and Alexander was down. He took the eight count and continued, albeit on slightly unsteady legs.

Barrett sensed his opponent hadn’t fully recovered and charged in again with a flurry of punches, some landing round the back of the head while Alexander was on his way to the canvas. Alexander rose to his feet again and took his second count from referee Ian John-Lewis. There was no respite for Alexander when the fight continued. Barrett went in for the kill. In what was a carbon copy of the second knockdown Barrett threw several head punches and Alexander was down again. Alexander started to climb to his feet but the referee had seen enough and the fight was halted. A good win for Ryan Barrett who improves to 21-8-2 and will hope to get back into the domestic mix at lightweight.

In the co-headliner Pat McAleese (10st 13lb) took on Lee Noble (11st) for the vacant British Masters light-middleweight belt. The fight ended with a brutal ninth round KO in favour of Noble. McAleese, who drops to (10-1-1) and lost his unbeaten record, dipped low to throw a body shot and walked onto a huge Noble uppercut and the fight was over.

McAleese went down heavily, there was no count as the referee and medics rushed to aid McAleese who looked badly hurt. After receiving some oxygen McAleese got back to his feet accompanied by huge cheers from the York Hall crowd. In a great sporting gesture, he climbed back into the ring while his team were trying to escort him back to the changing rooms to congratulate Noble on his win.

Before the fight's conclusion, it was a fairly even contest that McAleese was edging due to his aggression and effective body punching. In the early rounds Noble seemed content to let McAleese push him to the ropes and land multiple body shots. While a lot of head shots were landing on Nobles' gloves some were getting through.

As the fight went on Noble (12-14-2) began to find his range and was getting more success. He started to work his jab and threw some chopping right hands. Moving into the later rounds the fight was still close and very competitive but a dramatic ending like that was not in the script. McAleese and Noble had previously fought to a six-round draw in March.

Full Undercard report to follow.