Garton takes British welterweight title in blood-soaked Brentwood battle

A blood-spattered former car mechanic from Peckham is the British welterweight boxing champion after a relentless battle against a worthy opponent.
Johnny Garton’s fight against Gary Corcoran was stopped in the 11th round of a war of attrition fought by two soldiers at Brentwood Centre tonight.
And Garton, blood pouring all the way down his face from a headwound, was lifted up in triumph by previous title holder, friend, stable mate and rival Bradley Skeete, to be hailed by his many fans outside the ring.
The bout was marred, though, by fighting amongst the crowd in the earlier rounds. Repeated announcements by promoter Frank Warren to stop the fisticuffs – as the melee was being filmed – were ignored for more than two rounds. At least, that is, until the fight started to hot up.
Garton was able to focus his attention on his own battle, though, as both fighters fought themselves almost to a standstill, with blood staining both their shorts.
The fight instead became a slugfest inside the ring.
Corcoran was sent reeling by a flurry of blows in the 11th round and Garton followed up to send him collapsing onto the ropes and the ref stepped in immediately to stop it with just one three-minute period to go.
Millwall fan Garton, wearing shorts bearing his daughter Elsie’s name, roared “Come on!” from Skeete’s shoulders before being bestowed with the belt at the end of an epic brawl.
Further details in Tuesday’s South London Press.