Boxing: Johanneson stays on front foot to please home crowd

Carl Johanneson won every round and never took a single backwards step last night to retain his British super-featherweight title at the town hall in his hometown of Leeds.

Ricky Burns appeared to run out of ideas in round one and allowed himself to be punched and pushed from corner to corner until the final bell 12 rounds later.Johanneson dominated so totally that there was a case after nine or 10 rounds for Burns pulling out. In rounds seven, nine and 10 Burns found himself on the canvas and it was clear from the pain on his face that he was not too keen to push on.

Johanneson, whose first 16 fights were in America, established himself as a local favourite last night with his relentless performance.