Boxing: Pyatt's pride of place: Leicester's middleweight rides high

(First Edition)

CHRIS PYATT made the most of his 'last chance' to hit the world standard on a night of glory in Leicester. This time winning the World Boxing Organisation middleweight title meant prestige and personal pride for Pyatt instead of just a means to inflate his bank account.

Italy's vastly experienced Sumbu Kalambay was the one to slip into the red on all three judges' cards on Wednesday, although many ringsiders felt the former World Boxing Association champion's expert counter-punching had been decisive.

It probably came down to a barnstorming finish with Pyatt dredging up the last vestiges of his stamina to win his unanimous verdict by margins of 116-114, 116-113 and 115-113.

Three years ago, Pyatt lost a WBO light middleweight challenge against John David Jackson so there was no room for failure this time. 'I'm 29 and I would never have got another go at a world title after this,' Pyatt said.

Kalambay was bitter. 'I can't come back to fight in England again after this,' he said. 'What fight were the judges watching?'

Lennox Lewis may be forced to put any plans to fight Evander Holyfield on ice after the former world champion said yesterday he wanted a rematch against Riddick Bowe. Holyfield expects Bowe to beat Jesse Ferguson tomorrow - and expects the man who took away his undisputed heavyweight crown last November to give him a title shot next.