By Elliot Foster
Steven Ward claimed a title but is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The Belfast light-heavyweight picked up the vacant WBO European title with a victory over Liam Conroy.
Ward, bloodied and bruised after a cut over his left eye, began the fight on the back foot.
Conroy, who came into the fight on the back of a British title defeat at the hands of Joshua Buatsi, had the better of the early stages, exclusively live on iFL TV in the UK and ESPN+ Stateside.
He landed a lovely right hand which opened up the cut on Ward’s eye and he threw a flurry of shots.
But the referee Steve Gray had seen enough midway through round eight and the contest was called a technical decision.
The scores were 76-75, 76-75 and 76-75 at the time of the stoppage and Ward improves to 12-0 as Conroy slips to 17-5-1 with nine quick.
