DENTON VASSELL SHOW REPORT

VASSELL WILL NOT BE RUSHED

DENTON VASSELL will not be hurried towards bigger honours despite making a successful first defence of his Commonwealth welterweight title against Bethuel Ushona.

The Mancunian scored his 17^th straight professional win, outpointing the tricky Namibian at Wigan's Robin Park Arena on Saturday.

Ushona lost for the first time in his career after 23 straight wins going  down 118-111, 117-113 and 117-112 on the judges' scorecards.

Vassell, 26, was always in control although Ushona made it competitive fighting in short bursts and had success in the middle rounds.

Hatton Promotions President Ricky Hatton said: "Denton still doesn't have great experience at this level and is work in progress.

"There are no plans to move him forward immediately and I would like him to have a couple more Commonwealth title defences before we push him.

"Denton is improving all the time and that is no surprise because I have never seen a boxer train as hard.

"Beating Ushona was a fantastic win against a real live opponent and will help his improvement."

In the chief supporting contest Blackpool's Matty Askin became Hatton Promotions latest champion with a sixth round stoppage of previously unbeaten Yorkshireman Neil Dawson to claim the vacant Central Area cruiserweight title.

There was little between the pair early on, but Askins piled on the pressure from round five and in the following session when Dawson sagged on the ropes ref Michael Alexander made a perfectly timed intervention.

Askins has won all ten professional fights and is moving into British title contention.

OTHER RESULTS

8 rounds super-bantamweight: Daniel Kodjo Sassou (France) bt Rhys Roberts (Manchester) RTD 1 (hand injury)

6 rounds light-middleweight: Tom Doran (Connahs Quay) bt Jamie Boness (Biggleswade) RSC 1

4 rounds light-middleweight: Jez Wilson (Sheffield) bt Rocky Chakir (Bristol) Pts 39-37

4 rounds super-bantamweight:  Jazza Dickens (Liverpool) bt Sali Mustafov W RSC 1

4 rounds light-welterweight: Tom Shaw (Burton) bt Danny Dontchev (Tooting) Pts 40-36