By Elliot Foster

Jack Arnfield got the decision in a rather forgettable encounter with his Blackpool rival Brian Rose.

The pair clashed at the Manchester Arena, exclusively live on Sky Sports, for the eventual winner’s WBA International middleweight title.

The fight, dubbed ‘The Battle of Blackpool’, took place as part of the undercard to Jorge Linares’ world lightweight title rematch against Anthony Crolla.

It was an incident-free affair, other than the customary cut to Brian Rose’s nose, and all three judges saw it to Arnfield, who retained his belt, by margins of 115-113, 115-113 and 116-112.

Arnfield rolls on to 24-2, while Rose slips to 29-5-1.

Earlier in the card, Katie Taylor went to points as she warmed up for her appearance on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title showdown against Wladimir Klitschko.

Taylor has been set for action on the Wembley Stadium card on April 29 since its announcement, but she moved to 4-0 with an 80-72 points victory over former world title challenger Milena Koleva.

Marcus Morrison succumbed his WBC International Silver middleweight title to Jason Welborn.

The now-former champion had the better of the opening exchanges, knocking his opponent down in the second round.

But once Welborn had recovered from being put on the seat of his trunks by the previously undefeated Morrison, he began to put pressure on the previously undefeated man and eventually got the better of him.

At the end of 10 hard-fought rounds, the three scoring judges had it to the Midlander (20-6, 7 KOs) by margins of 96-93, 96-93 and 97-92.

In defeat, Morrison slips to 14-1 with 10 early.