James Yelland, 26-year-old superbantamweight from Finchley, lost his unbeaten record when his six-round clash with Canning Town's John McKay was stopped in the last round at York Hall, Bethnal Green, last Wednesday.
Yelland's run of five wins and a draw in six contests ended when he was trapped in a corner under a barrage of blows to the head from McKay, and the referee intervened, with only 13 seconds remaining.
Though McKay was only a pound heavier at 8st 8.5lbs, the powerfully-built eastender had a significant height and reach advantage which provided problems for Yelland, who relies heavily on the jab.
Yelland looked nervous at the start, and the McKay edged ahead over the first two rounds.
McKay turned on the heat at the start of the third round with volley of blows to the head that sent Yelland's gumshield spinning to the canvas. Yelland used his ringcraft to weather the storm and rocked McKay with a solid right to the jaw in the fourth round.
But the warning alarms had been sounded, and when McKay repeated the onslaught in the final session, the Finchley boxer's brave effort to survive until the final bell proved in vain.
Yelland has to take a statutory four-week rest. "But I'll be back in the New Year and raring to go," he said.
In the top-of-the bill bout on Potters Bar-based promoter Jess Harding's show, IBC world light-welterweight champion Stephen Smith made a successful second defence of his crown, with a unanimous points decision over Argentinian Victor Plaz over 12 rounds.
December 5, 2001 10:53
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