By Terence Dooley
Sheffield’s Tommy Frank (7-0, 0 KOs) earned his first title by beating Craig Derbyshire for the Central Area Super flyweight title at the city's Ice Arena venue on Friday night and immediately dedicated the win to former gym mate Scott Westgarth, who died after beating Dec Spelman by decision at the Doncaster Dome on February 24.
Both men trained at Sheffield’s Hillsborough gym and Frank confessed that it has been a hard few months for Westgarth’s family, friends and fellow pros. “The last eight weeks have been really hard for the lads in the gym” he said when speaking to Bob Westerdale of The Star (Sheffield).
“I just had Scott in my head. Everything I ever achieve in boxing will be for Scott. He was like my brother, these (in the gym) are all my brothers. He was like a brother to us all.”
He added: “The fight probably went perfect from a boxing perspective. I knew I could stand and have a fight with him, that's all he could do. He is a brawler, he hit hard, so I knew I just had to box him. What else could I do?
“He was probably the toughest (opponent) I have boxed. Fitness was the key. I just want to get those rounds under my belt. If I am going to do it the old fashioned way, I want the English title. That's the next belt I have got in mind.”
Former holder Derbyshire fell to 5-26-3 (1 early) in the first defence of the title he won by beating Anthony Smith last June. He had fought five non-title fights since that night, losing all of them before running into Frank.
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