Boxing: British featherweight title win for Greenock's John Simpson

GREENOCK'S John Simpson upset the odds to stun home favourite Martin Lindsay and claim the British featherweight title in Belfast last night.

The previously unbeaten Lindsay was strongly backed against the Scot, but suffered a unanimous defeat as all three judges scored the fight 116-113 in Simpson's favour following a see-saw contest.

Lindsay's second defence of his crown did not go to script at all as Simpson survived the early rounds to take control by the fourth, pounding the body of the Ulsterman.

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Although Lindsay rallied, Simpson was still getting in strong shots and Lindsay suffered heavy bruising around his right eye.

The defending champion edged the final round, but by then it was too late as Simpson claimed an unlikely victory - one he never expected to have a shot at after losing a preliminary fight to Stephen Smith, only to get a crack at Lindsay when Smith suffered a hand injury.

"Knowing that my career might be over, it really scared me, so I had to dig deep because this man is a great fighter," said former Commonwealth champion Simpson.

"Similar styles, so it was a great contest, which I knew it would be from the start."

Lindsay's manager Frank Maloney had hoped that victory over Simpson at King's Hall would be the stepping stone to a world title fight before the end of 2011.

He planned another defence before moving on to European and world title tilts for the man who stopped another Scottish fighter, Paul Appleby from South Queensferry, in six rounds to become British champion in April 2009.

It was Appleby who had taken the title out of Simpson's hands in June 2008, but now the Greenock man who first won the title by beating Andy Morris in 2006 can keep the Lonsdale Belt.

Praising his opponent, 28-year-old Lindsay vowed to recover his own boxing career despite losing a bout he had been favourite to win.

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"He was a bit sharper on the night. I'm just disappointed in my own performance. I know I am a lot better than that. But full credit to him, he came over to Belfast, so credit where credit is due," Lindsay said.

"I'll be back, there are still plenty of opportunities out there for me."

Responding to Lindsay's claim that he had not been at his best last night, Simpson countered: "I've got it wrong on the night before, but luckily I was sharp."

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