Belfast's Eamonn Magee maintained his record of never being stopped in the professional ring but lost on points to the highly rated Ricky Hatton at Manchester's MEN Arena on one of British boxing's biggest nights in years. In front of 15,000 enthusiasts in Hatton's home town, 30-year-old Magee made a roaring start with a thumping left-hander that felled his 23-year-old opponent inside 30 seconds, before the Englishman soared to a comprehensive points victory to retain his WBU light-welterweight crown for the sixth time.
The manner of Hatton's victory and the acclaim which went with it have marked Hatton out as potential boxing great, with his relentless pressure and scorching power shots to Magee's head and body winning him the three judges' verdicts by 116-111 (twice), 115-112.
Magee was content to stay in his own corner and soak up punishment on the off chance that his accurate jabs would open up a chance. He wobbled Hatton briefly in the second, a blow that later required two stitches under his right eye, but the brilliant home favourite did not give him a chance and deservedly retained his title with a comprehensive points victory.
Filed by Shane Murray
