Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / BOXING
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Boxing Contents:  Champions List | British rankings | World rankings | Get Involved

10:55 GMT, Saturday, 21 June 2008 11:55 UK

Classy Pryce too good for Portman

By Nabil Hassan
National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

Bradley Pryce

Bradley Pryce successfully defended his Commonwealth light-middleweight title after defeating Midlander Marcus Portman with a sixth-round stoppage.

Pryce dominated the early rounds, cutting his opponent in the fourth.

More punishment followed in the fifth and mid-way through the sixth with Welshman Pryce flooring Portman on the canvas with a thunderous left hook.

Portman got to his feet but referee Marcus McDonald called an end to the fight after a barrage of Pryce punches.

The 27-year-old successfully defended his Commonwealth title for the sixth time against the man from West Bromwich and will now look to step up in class and challenge at a higher level.

But Pryce revealed he was not entirely happy with his personal performance.

606: DEBATE
Is Bradley Pryce world class?

"The fight didn't go to plan. I started sluggishly but I could feel he was tiring," he said. "I knew if I caught him he would go and that's exactly what happened. "Now I want a world title shot."

Earlier, Liverpool's Paul Smith lost his English middleweight title, losing to Coventry's Steve Bendall on points.

Smith's younger brother Stephen made a successful switch to the pro ranks on the same bill, the 22-year-old featherweight winning his first fight with a third round knockout of Telford journeyman Shaun Walton.

Former league footballer Curtis Woodhouse was also victorious, winning his light-middleweight contest against Wayne Downing from West Bromwich inside 50 seconds.

That took Woodhouse's record since joining the professional boxing ranks to seven straight wins in less than two years.

The former Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Rotherham United, Peterborough United, Hull City and Grimsby Town midfielder made his professional debut in September 2006 with a win over Dean Marcantonio.

But his career as a boxer is still as an accompaniment to his football career.

The 28-year-old remains contracted to Rushden and Diamonds and turned out for them last season on a regular basis in the Blue Square Premier.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Gomez hyped up for Khan challenge (06 May 08 |  Boxing )
Pryce withdraws from Vegas fight (12 Apr 08 |  Boxing )
Pryce targets world crown in 2008 (08 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
Pryce sees off Concepcion with KO (06 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
McGuigan backing Pryce for glory (20 Nov 06 |  Boxing )
Pryce relishing Calzaghe stable (20 Oct 06 |  Boxing )
Maccarinelli's guide to Team Calzaghe (03 Mar 08 |  Boxing )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (07 Aug 07 |  Wales )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
British Boxing Board
Amateur Boxing Association
BBC Where I Live - Wales
Have your say on 606
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Boxing Contents:  Champions List | British rankings | World rankings | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©