By Alexey Sukachev

WBO #1 lightweight Kevin Mitchell had scored 31 wins and 23 of them inside the distance without any losses, but it was ultimately not enough to give a worthy challenge to the WBO interim 135lb titlist Michael Katsidis (now 27-2, 22 KOs) from Toowoomba, Australia. Travelling to United Kingdom for the second time in his career, aggressive slugger Katsidis delivered a war to a bit nervous Mitchell from the first second of the first round. Mitchell had no chance but to retreat under fire taking a few punches but being unable to fire something in return. The first round was in Aussie's favour.

The second stanza saw Mitchell turning the pattern of the battle around with his subtle footwork and general mastership which helped him to employ a stick-and-move tactics and to land some right jabs and left uppercuts when Katsidis was getting on the inside. It was a good round for Mitchell but a bad feeling of danger never left neither him, nor his fans

Both of them were right with their premonitions and it was proved in the third. Katsidis promptly fired a left hook to rock Mitchell badly. The Brit was able to find salvation in clinches and even to land some shots by himself though of little significance. At the end of the second minute of the round, Katsidis pinned Mitchell to the ropes once again and after a short left hook the challenger turned his back on the champion and stopped maintaining his defense. Referee Dave Parris quickly got in halting the action at 1:57 of the third. One of the greatest victories in Michael Katsidis' career and a bitter setback for 25-year old British lightweight.

Undercard Results

2008 Beijing Olympics middleweight gold medalist Jame DeGale (7-0, 5 KOs) captured his first professional title after a scary stoppage of hugely overmatched Sam Horton (15-2, 2 KOs) in five one-sided rounds. DeGale, looking much more thrilling in his attacks than in some of his earlier bouts, went after feather-fisted Horton right from the outset. The latter ate some leather already in the first, and in the second he went down after a major left hook by DeGale. After a "good" third stanza, Horton started to take a great deal of punishment in the fourth, easily indicating for a 10-8 round. He was also deducted one point for rough tactics in close quarters. Round five proved to be the last in the fight as DeGale issued a massive non-stop barrage of various punches and just couldn't miss with them. The end came in the midst of the period after Horton was badly floored and rose some concerns from medical team. James DeGale is on the run - now with the WBA International super middleweight title.

A new British heavyweight sheriff has been crowned moments ago in the city of London, as an up-and-coming hard-charging Derek Chisora (13-0, 8 KOs) annihilated badly faded veteran Danny Williams (41-9, 31 KOs) to take his BBBofC national title in two punishing rounds. Zimbabwe-native Chisora got up to a huge start instantly putting the reigning champion, ten years his senior, on the defensive. Williams almost turned his back to charging Chisora but nevertheless was able to survive through the first round. Round two proved, however, that it was possibly the sad end of a long road for former world title challenger.

After a few combos, Chisora quickly connected with a big right uppercut followed by a left hand that pinned Williams to the ropes. After a few shots, then-champion went down on a hard short left hook. Danny barely beat the count only to be floored moments later - this time with the right hand of Chisora, prompting referee to issue an immediate stoppage at 1:42 of the second.

Chisora indicated that Commonwealth titlist Sam Sexton is next on his radar. Chisora is 26 years old.

Coming back into the ring after almost a year of inactivity, Scottish super featherweight Ricky Burns (28-2, 7 KOs) outboxed tough and durable journeyman Youssef Al Hamidi (6-27-2, 1 KO) over eight. The sole score was 80-73 in his favour.

Another British amateur standout Billy Joe Saunders (6-0, 3 KOs) was considerablly better than Andy Butlin (6-4-1) but failed to get his job done inside the distance. Butlin tried his best not only to last till the final bell but also ti bring some heat to Saunders. His activities were a little bit praised by referee Richie Davis, the sole scorer of the fight, who had it 60-55 - for Saunders, a notch over a clean sweep.

One of the Britain's biggest young hopes and former amateur world champion Frankie Gavin had his mission completed, in the first. Gavin (now 7-0, 6 KOs) put an end to Gavin Tait (8-9, 3 KOs) series of ring survivals becoming the first ever pro boxer to stop the rugged Welshman, getting the rid of him at 2:07 of the starting stanza.

Two of three Walsh brothers impressed the local public with fast and excting knockout wins. Lightweight Liam Walsh is now 8-0 with 7 KOs after the first-round destruction of previously unstopped Ibrar Riyaz (4-10-1, 2 KOs). Featherweight Ryan Walsh (10-0, 4 KOs) did exactly the same to Irish Eugene Heagney (8-5, 3 KOs), also in the first. It took Ryan just 49 seconds to get his job accomplished while Liam spent 70 seconds more before his stoppage.

Craig Evans (1-0, 1 KO) TKO 1 Dan Carr (0-3)

George Michael Carman (2-0) PTS 4 Johny Greaves (2-49, 1 KO)

Vinny Mitchell (12-1, 2 KOs) PTS 4 Daniel Thorpe (23-101-3. 9 KOs). Score was 40-36.