Josh Warrington maintained his unbeaten record with a unanimous victory against Dennis Tubieron in Leeds on Saturday night.
The home favourite never looked in trouble against his battling opponent and the judges handed him the bout 119-109, 119-110, 119-109 as he improved his record to 21-0.
The fight was an official eliminator for the WBC featherweight title but a clash with champion Gary Russell Jr still looks a way off with a domestic fight against Lee Selby now a possibility.
Warrington had the better of the opening round, landing some crisp shots while Tubieron looked a little wild at times throwing the right hand.
The Filipino already looked to be tiring and while he was game enough, his shots were having little effect on Warrington who continued to press.
Tubieron was busier in the next as he tried to apply pressure but again Warrington was unfazed and responded with two good left hands in the closing stages.
Both men were trading on the inside and came perilously close to clashing heads several times in the fourth but, when given space, Warrington landed a useful straight right early in the next.
Tubieron responded well but after Warrington landed another right the 24-year-old unloaded a succession of punches and his opponent did well to make it to the bell in a round lengthened by an apparent timekeeping error.
The next was shortened to atone but Warrington was back in control in the seventh, landing almost at will before an impressive left stalled his momentum.
Warrington continued to dominate in the eighth and ninth, landing in flurries, but Tubieron wore them well without offering anything in response.
Both men inevitably tired in the latter stages and Warrington closed out a convincing but hard-fought victory.
Source: PA
