Champion Rose pricks Welsh

Blackpool’s Brian Rose (pictured) proved himself a class above Martin Welsh who has only been a pugilist for less than two years. The 26 year old ‘Lion’ progressed to 16-1-1 as he successfully defended his English light-middleweight crown with a mature display in handing Kent man Welsh his first setback in ten professional outings.

Welsh, who had looked impressive on the several occasions I’ve been ringside albeit against journeymen and never having to fight beyond six rounds, found the step up in class a mountain too high. Surprisingly though, it was challenger Welsh who started the brighter confidently stepping into his jab from the first bell while Rose with fresh memories of his shattering knockout loss to Max Maxwell last year held a high guard.

However, it soon became clear that although challenger Welsh (11st) had the weight in volume, champion Rose (10st 13lb 13oz) held the advantage in both accuracy and power.

Welsh was throwing a lot but landing little, and from the third round onwards, had asserted his authority on Welsh, who was looking discouraged and lacking ideas. By the end of round four Welsh appeared finished and referee Richie Davies wasn’t helping his cause by warning him for holding in the sixth. Welsh was using survival tactics as he began shifting punishment and dropped his hands every time Rose got through.

He did momentarily revive his hopes in the seventh by mounting his final assault, but any sense of joy soon turned to despair in the eighth as a big Rose right hand rocked him to his boots, before applying five more unanswered punches while Welsh was trapped on the ropes. Referee Richie Davies wisely stepped in to save Welsh from further damage at 53 seconds.

Rose, who has been working with a sports psychologist to improve his confidence could now face new British champion Prince Arron.

And he will need all of his new found self belief to turn the Prince into a pauper.