By Jake Donovan

Paul Butler scored a 10-round points win over Ashley Sexton in a battle of unbeaten super flyweight prospects Thursday evening at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London.

The bout was an ugly affair early on, but proved to be an effective strategy for Butler (8-0, 3KO) down the stretch. A last round knockdown appeared to preserve victory for Butler, though the referee's score of 98-92 was much wider than most expected. 

Sexton (12-1-2, 5KO) was effective early on and did his best to avoid Butler's mauling tactics. However, his cleaner style wasn't enough to upset the rhythm of his opponent or even keep him at bay. 

The fight was already slipping out of Sexton's hands when he was dropped in the 10th and final round. The 24-year old immediately jumped to his feet and adapted a "Karate-Kid"-like crane stance to indicate that he was alright. The fight remained spirited in the closing minutes but Butler avoided getting caught with anything dramatic to pick up his third win of the year and creep towards contender status. 

TELEVISED UNDERCARD

Mitchell Smith easily turned away the challenge of Dan Carr in their four-round super featherweight bout. Referee Robert Williams scored the bout 40-36 in favor of the 19-year old Smith (2-0, 1KO), who turned pro just over a month ago. Carr (2-28-2, 1KO) was battered throughout and nearly did not come out for the fourth round. However, the 24-year old journeyman braved on and took his licks for a final three minutes.

At 130 lbs, Irish super featherweight Stephane Ormond (11-1, 5 KOs) continued his slow rise in ranks with a workmanlike decision over tough and durable English journeyman Mickey Coveney (13-16, 2 KOs). Ormond was better in every department, and for ten rounds was doing his best to stop Coveney inside the distance. While head punches didn't bother Micky much, Ormond's fire to the body forced a grimace of pain on Coveney's face, which lasted to the end of the fight. However, he has never been down during the bout, and had his slim chances but for no good. Referee, who was also a sole judge of the bout, awarded it to Ormond: 100-92.

Featherweight Joey Taylor (now 1-0, 1 KO) made his debut a devastating one by completely destroying incompetent Michael Strupart (0-5-1) in 1 minute and 42 seconds. Strupart has never been down but was helpless at the ropes at the time of the stoppage.

In more of a wrestling match than a boxing contest. raw and rugged Tony Shields (0-4) gave some trouble to mentally tough but rather raw Darryl Williams (2-0) before losing to him in four. The fight was very ugly with numerous hugs, butts and many more of that stuff. At the end, the sole card of referee read as 39-38 - for Williams. BoxingScene had it 38-38 - a draw.

In his second pro fight bantamweight talent Charlie Hoy (2-0) looked poised and charged against Bulgarian journeyman Galin Paunov (2-3) and got a well deserved win over four rounds. Hoy mixed his body attacks with head shots. Southpaw Paunov was briefly down in the third after a right hand to the ear by Hoy. The sole score was 40-35 - for the British fighter.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox