Simpson too strong for Truscott

Simpson powered his way to victory in Middlesbrough

John Simpson retained his Commonwealth featherweight title with a 10th round stoppage of Paul Truscott.

The Greenock fighter opened up a cut on Truscott's eye in the second round and did the same to his opponent's left eye in the following round.

Truscott, who lost the belt to Simpson in January with a cut after a clash of heads, battled on gamely.

There was a standing count in the ninth before Simpson finished the contest with a flurry of brutal blows.

Truscott, 23, looked devastated when referee Victor Loughlin stepped between the boxers in the 10th as Simpson's final assault was launched without reply.

The Middlesbrough fighter had given his all before his home fans in a thrilling bout in which neither boxer had taken a step backwards.

Simpson's punches looked the stronger and more accurate throughout, with his crunching left hook to Truscott's jaw in the fourth round a sign that he was determined to retain his belt.

The fight was meant to have taken place in July but the Middlesbrough venue had been flooded following torrential rain.

Both featherweights had evidently made the most of the extra preparation time, for the bout was conducted at a ferocious tempo.

Simpson takes his record to 20 wins and six defeats and now eyes a contest with Martin Lindsay in a bid to regain the British featherweight title he lost to Paul Appleby in June 2008.