Rainton's Martin Ward has won boxing's English Bantamweight title by beating Jason Booth on points at Hartlepool's Borough Hall.
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Nottingham's Booth represented by far the stiffest challenge of Ward's career, having previously challenged for the world and European titles.
Ward started the brighter of the two fighters, and took the opening two rounds.
Booth came back into the fight in the third, and from there the momentum swung between the two until the closing bell.
Ward was caught with a shot which drew blood from his nose in the eighth round.
But he continued to impose himself on Booth, and at the end of the ten rounds, Ward's hand was raised following a unanimous points decision.
On the undercard, Gary Fox claimed the Northern Area lightweight title knocking out rival Neil Hepper in the fifth round of their eagerly anticipated rematch.
Gateshead’s Robert Ismay remains unbeaten after a comfortable points victory against Scunthorpe fighter Jody Meikle.
Stockton’s Mohammed Waqas also remains undefeated, his third pro win came against Stoke’s Brett Fido, who offered a stiff test on his pro debut.
Roared on by his hometown crowd Callum Winton picked up a win against Mansfield’s Rob Sharpe.
And, to make it a full house of North East wins Horden’s Gregg O’Neill dominated against Lithuanian Andrej Cepur.
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