Challenger Jason Welborn defeated champion Tommy Langford on May 4 to win British title on his third attempt
The ‘Battle of the Baggies between the two West Brom FC fans was a cracking contest that resulted in the closest of decisions with two ringside judges ruling Welborn (23-6) the winner with scores of 114-113, and the third judge awarding it Langford (20-2) at 115-113.
The BCB Promotions event at Walsall Town Hall had fight fans out of their seats throughout the 12 riveting rounds.
Welborn, 31, had two previous attempts at the British title at welterweight against Frankie Gavin and Liam Smith at super-welterweight – both times he was felled by body shots in the mid-rounds, but on his third crack at the crown, he got his tactics right.
Welborn started brightly and rocked Langford in the second round with a heavy left hook, causing referee Terry O’Connor to step in and give the champion a standing eight-count.
Langford, 28, responded as a true champion by coming back to boss the rest of the fight, almost forcing a stoppage in the ninth-round.
The championship rounds then saw the challenger come on strong for a big finish, which was just enough to steal the decision and dethrone his local rival.
Welborn is a two-weight Midlands Area champion, WBC International Silver middleweight titlist, and now the British middleweight champion.
Undercard
Twitter sensation and Commonwealth title contender Dave ‘White Rhino’ Allen (13-3-2) defeated David Howe (14-9) in the fourth and final round with just 20 seconds remaining in the fight.
Langford’s stablemate Shaka Thompson moved up to 4-0 by winning all four-rounds against Czech Republic’s Martin Kabhrel (2-7) comfortably. The super-middleweight, real name Jordan, is an unbeaten southpaw from Selly Oak, aged just 22.
Midlands Area middleweight champion Tyler Denny (8-0-2), 26 from Rowley Regis, won his 10th professional contest with a shutout points win – 60-54 – over Latvian Raimonds Sniedze (12-39-2).
Unbeaten female featherweight Rachel Ball (3-0), 27, extended her winning run to three in three in her third professional fight in under five months, since making her debut last December.
The former three-time world kick-boxing champion defeated Polish featherweight Monika Antonik (1-11) comfortably over four two-minute rounds.
There were also points wins for Swadlincote’s Ross Hollis (2-0) and Birmingham’s Kane Baker (7-3) in their respective bouts.