Dean Harrison retires from boxing

Wolverhampton's Dean Harrison has retired from boxing after his Prizefighter dream was abruptly halted in the first round of his opening bout against John Watson.

Bookies favourite Adil Anwar, the English welterweight champion, walked away with the trophy and £32,000 grand prize at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday night.

Anwar could be pitted against Dudley's Jason Welborn, the Midlands welterweight title holder, later this year but Harrison insists he has hung up his gloves after his latest setback.

The 28-year-old's mind just didn't appear to be on the job after he became a father for the first time the previous Saturday.

His son, Dustin, is stable but still in New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, after arriving three months prematurely and Harrison has been by his side.

'Deano' was today left reflecting on a career that brought challenges to the British and English titles, a spell as Midlands champion and two fights in Las Vegas, but he is still adamant it's over.

He said: "It's 100 per cent, there's no comebacks or anything, I will never, ever box again.

"I am not making excuses, I have a beautiful little boy now and I want to be there for him and be able to talk to him as he grows up.

"I am not going anywhere, anyway, I am not going to get offered the opportunities so, for me, there's no point in carrying on.

"What I have done and what I have achieved over the last six years means everything to me and that's what I will take from it."

Harrison had already been put down once when referee John Keane called an abrupt end to the fight, just one minute and 40 seconds into the contest.

A swift coming together saw Watson land a right hand that put Harrison onto the canvas, although he comfortably answered the count.

Watson put everything behind another right, a hook to the jaw, as both boxers careered towards the home fighter's corner and left Harrison covering up in the ropes.

More pressure rained in from Watson, who let his shots go with both hands, and referee Keane stepped in to bring the contest to a close.

Harrison's Black Country compatriot, West Bromwich's Young Mutley, was today looking to cash in on his status despite being eliminated from Prizefighter in the semi-finals for a second time.

Just over two years after bowing out to Colin Lynes in the last four of the first light welterweight Prizefighter, Mutley was pipped by Tyrone Nurse in the sequel.

Nurse lost to Anwar in the final as Mutley was left considering whether to put himself forward as a 'shot' fighter.

As a former holder of the British welterweight title – which Lynes now holds – Mutley could found himself looked on as an opponent for up-and-coming fighters to get the star 'rub.'

If it swells the bank balance and gets him back to the British title, Mutley would consider doing it, as well, as Lynes only got his shot because he was considered as a stepping stone for Lee Purdy.

Mutley admitted he is open to offers and the 35-year-old – real name Lee Woodley – still possesses the punch power to rock their world.

He said: "We will see what happens, Colin Lynes only got to the Prizefighter semi-finals and he got a British title shot.

"I didn't disgrace myself, I feel I have still got it and I am carrying on, I want title fights so to box someone in the top 10 has got to be my way in.

"That's my aim next, maybe I could fight one of the kids who were involved on Saturday night and I will fight them anywhere, it doesn't bother me."

Mutley got to the semi-finals after overcoming another West Midlands fighter, Telford's Mark Lloyd, in the first fight of the evening.

A close contest with Lloyd went Mutley's way and left his opponent needing three stitches to his right eyebrow, after a clash of heads in the last round.

Lloyd had already had his nose bloodied but Mutley – real name Lee Woodley – had barely got out of first gear to take the call.

The veteran did need the better side of a split decision to get through although both judges who favoured him gave all three rounds, 30-27.

It was tough going for both fighters as they are close friends and stable-mates who train at the same gym, Wednesbury Boxing Academy.

Mutley said: "When we came into the middle of the ring, we couldn't even look at each other, it was a nasty feeling but it had to be done."

Mutley was joined in the last four by Anwar, who had all three judges on his side in a points win over Barry Morrison, Watson and Nurse, who pipped Dale Miles on another nasty cut in the last round.

Nurse, some 13 years younger than his opponent, set the pace in a frantic first two rounds but, in the last session, Mutley came alive, perhaps for the first time on the night.

A snapping jab and a body shot had been the pick of Nurse's work but he took a right hand straight onto the mush as Mutley, marked to the right cheekbone, put his all into the last round.

It proved too little, too late as Mutley lost out on points with all three judges favouring Nurse by a round, 29-28.

That set up the final between Nurse and Anwar, who took every round without doubt against Watson in the semi-final.

Nurse put up a valiant fight but Anwar was not to be denied on the night as he took his third points victory to take the trophy, winning by one, two and three rounds respectively with the judges.

'The Prizefighter Prospects' – Dudley duo Ryan Aston and Tommy Ghent – boxed outside of the tournament before the show went on the air.

Aston proved his power with a second straight first round knockout against Telford's Kieron Gray who, in his first fight after coming out of retirement, failed to answer the count.

As Gray lunged in, 'Tank' picked a crunching left jab with all of his power into the ribcage of his opponent, who was left in a heap on the canvas.

Referee Howard Foster made the count and Gray tried to get up, but felt more pain as he rose and was counted out, just one and 30 seconds into the first of six scheduled rounds at middleweight.

Coseley's Ghent went the distance with the slippery William Warburton, who became the first to last more than two rounds with the 19-year-old in his three fights since he turned pro last year.

Warburton holds victories over Harrison and Midlands lightweight champion Amir Unsworth and relied on his footwork to keep him out of trouble.

It made him difficult to land upon but Ghent learned on the job and started to make his opponent miss, as well, in the last round, which left him open for a stinging right uppercut.

Warburton survived but Ghent had done enough to take all four rounds of their welterweight contest, by 40-36.

By Craig Birch