By Terence Dooley
Manchester Arena (formerly M.E.N Arena), Manchester, Lancashire - Last year, there were many who thought Anthony Crolla's career was over after getting brutally attacked on the street. He recovered from his injuries, and came within a point of becoming a world champion.
Crolla (29-4-3, 11KOs), and most in the arena, felt he had the fight won - but the bout ended up being a twelve round split draw with WBA lightweight champion Darleys Perez (32-1-1, 20KOs). Perez lost points for low blows in the eleventh and twelfth rounds. The three judges saw it 114-113 for Perez, 116-111 for Crolla, 113-113 for the draw.
ON THE UNDERCARD
Martin Murray (31-2-1, 14KOs) had an easy night when he made his Matchroom debut with a single round destruction of George Beroshvili last month, but the St . Helens-based former world title challenger had to go a few rounds against Croatia's Mirzet Bajrektarevic in their scheduled eight rounder.
Murray finally broke through at 2:51 of the fifth when referee John Lyson stepped in and waved the fight over, somewhat prematurely in BoxingScene's opinion and with the visitor protesting the decision.
In one of the most anticipated fights of the night, Birmingham's Sam Eggington (10st 5lbs 10oz) defended his Commonwealth welterweight title against Sunderland's Glenn Foot (10st 5lbs 8oz).
The vacant British title was also on the line following Frankie Gavin's decision to vacate to fight Kell Brook for the IBF belt in May.
Unlike the other British title fight, this one had a decisive ending courtesy of the doctor's decision to withdraw Foot due to the damage caused by an accidental head clash, which took the fight to the cards.
Scores of 80-72, 80-71 and 79-72 sent Eggington home with a deserved Technical Decision win.
Eggington moves on, but Foot will have to regroup if he us to gain a foothold in the British 147lb division--his come forward approach was meat and drink to Eggington.
Referee Steve Gray had little to do prior to docking a point from Foot in the seventh for excessive holding after he had been creased by a body shot.
Tyrone Nurse (31-2-1) and Chris Jenkins (16-0-1) fought back and forth to a twelve round majority draw. The scores were 117-112, 115-115, 114-114. There will likely be a rematch. The British super lightweight championship will remain vacant.
Light heavyweight Hosea Burton (13-0, 6KOs) won a six round unanimous decision over Nathan King (14-27).
Middleweight prospect Marcus Morrison (6-0, 4KOs) won a four round decision, with a score of 40-35, over Laszlo Fazekas (25-20-1).
Liam Taylor (12-1, 4KOs) won a four round decision over Mark McKray (6-29) in a super lightweight contest.
Jono Carroll (8-0, 1KO) got six round technical decision over super featherweight Barrington Brown (6-13).
Cruiserweight prospect Jack Massey (9-0, 3KOs) won a six round decision, with a score of 60-54, over Martyn Grainger (8-9).