Frankie Gavin defeats Curtis Woodhouse on points

Gavin (r) is now unbeaten in 11 fights

Birmingham welterweight Frankie Gavin endured a difficult night as he earned a split decision points victory over former footballer Curtis Woodhouse.

Victory for 25-year-old Gavin took his unbeaten record to 11-0 and also saw him defend his lightly-regarded WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title.

Both endured moments of difficulty in a fight that could have gone either way.

But it was Gavin who took it with scores of 117-112 and 116-113 in his favour and 115-114 against him.

The animosity that had marked the build up to this bout showed no sign of fading away as the two fighters jostled in the ring during the announcements.

But it was former Birmingham City footballer Woodhouse who initially looked the sharper fighter.

The 31-year-old from Driffield scored regularly with his persistent left jab as Gavin struggled to impose himself.

Birmingham's former amateur world champion threatened to retire if he lost and he belatedly found his timing and agility to get off his combinations and largely evade Woodhouse's best shots.

A clash in the 10th round opened up an old wound on the bridge of Gavin's nose and knocked out his gumshield but Woodhouse was unable to fully capitalise.

Woodhouse was then cut below the left eye in the final round as Gavin unloaded a barrage in the final few seconds.

The victory preserved Gavin's 100% record and saw Woodhouse slip to his third defeat in 18 contests.

Commonwealth champion Tony Bellew claimed the vacant British light-heavyweight title after beating Ovill McKenzie on points to earn a unanimous decision.

Birmingham heavyweight John Loveday won his first fight as a professional beating Howard Daley on points over four rounds.

But another Brummie, Terry Carruthers, was stopped after 75 seconds of the first round after being floored by a left hook from Liverpool's Joe Selkirk.