RABCHENKO BECOMES HATTON’S LATEST CHAMPION

RABCHENKO BECOMES HATTON'S LATEST CHAMPION

HATTON Promotions light-middleweight sensation Sergey Rabchenko captured the vacant WBA intercontinental title with a unanimous points win over Bradley Pryce.

The Belarussian is now unbeaten in 17 professional fights after taking the decision 117-112, 116-113 and 116-112 on the judges' cards in Queensferry, Wales on Friday night.

Rabchenko, 25, got off to a very good start. He won most of the early rounds and had the better of the middlesessions although the former Commonwealth champion had some success and was always competitive.

Pryce rallied late on scoring with some heavy right hands, but Rabchenko took the shots well and by the final round was back in control.

Local fighter Tom Doran took his undefeated record to 11 straight wins with an amazing first round stoppage of Max Maxwell in their British light-middleweight title eliminator.

If there is a more exciting 162 seconds of boxing anywhere in Britain this year, fans will in for a treat.

With the first clean punch of the fight, Maxwell slammed home a right hand that forced Doran to touch down and referee Howard Foster gave a count.

Maxwell, 23, stalked Doran and both men exchanged heavy artillery in an out-and-out shootout.

Doran was again wobbled badly and on the brink of being stopped before tagging Maxwell with right hand causing the Brummie to lurch forward.

He regained his balance and was under the cosh once more, but beginning to cover up when Foster jumped in.

Doran celebrated wildly, while Maxwell clearly angry at the stoppage stormed from the ring without waiting for the official announcement.