Defeat costs Napa European title chance

As widely anticipated, Ian Napa’s surprise British title defeat against Jamie McDonnell at the weekend has cost him his chance to regain the European bantamweight crown.

Napa was due to take on Jerome Arnould for the vacant European strap in France on March 6, but following the Hackney stylist’s controversial split decision loss to McDonnell in Brentwood the EBU will now select a new co-challenger to meet Arnould on the same date.

Many ringsiders considered Napa to be a comfortable winner on Friday night (I had Napa winning by two rounds, others far wider) but the three judges disagreed. Richie Davies saw it for Napa by 115-114, Ian John-Lewis favoured McDonnell by the same margin. The decisive vote went to Dave Parris who, somewhat incredibly, scored it for McDonnell by 117-112.

It remains to be seen whether McDonnell will be offered the opportunity to take the unfortunate Napa’s place. The new British champion from Doncaster sustained a cut left eye and some facial bruising in his battling performance and may require more than seven weeks to recover.

The likelihood is that the 23-year-old will take a well deserved rest after his spirited display and defend his newly acquired British title in the Spring, which could be in a return against Napa.