Boxing: Sinclair earns respect with Lonsdale Belt

Neil Sinclair added his name to a limited list of respectable British boxers, Takaloo regained what was rightfully his but Glenn Catley failed once against to win the European super-middleweight title during a busy weekend of boxing.

At the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Sinclair finally won possession of his Lonsdale Belt when his punches reduced Bradley Pryce to a stumbling, bloody wreck in round eight of their British welterweight title fight.

In modern British boxing too many fighters – and many of them of mediocre quality – have turned their back on the traditional Lonsdale Belt that is available after four title wins to any boxer. Sinclair, thankfully, has a sense of history and now he can concentrate on winning one of the sport's increasingly worthless baubles that are sold to the highest bidder by the sport's sanctioning bodies.

Also in Belfast, Takaloo, a thoroughly decent fighter from Margate, knocked out Dublin's Jim Rock in round nine to pick up the vacant World Boxing Union light-middleweight title. It was an entertaining fight until a thudding punch ended proceedings.

Takaloo now has to continue his struggle outside the ropes for British citizenship because he still does not have a passport, even though he left Iran with his family nearly 20 years ago. When Takaloo has finally settled his dispute with the British government perhaps he can be matched with one of Britain's other leading light-middleweights in a fight that will bring respect to the division and help the sport's image. The current situation is absurd because too few fighters are willing to fight their contemporaries and promoters are reluctant to risk one of their fighters against another promoter's fighter.

Perhaps the biggest loser on Saturday was Bristol's Glenn Catley in his challenge against Danilo Haussler for the European super-middleweight title in Chemnitz.

Catley was dropped in the opening round and was repeatedly warned for using his head before the fight was terminated in round five because of a cut over Haussler's left eye. The referee decided the cut had been caused by illegal use of the head, the scores were added up and Catley was the loser. Last year Haussler won a disputed split decision over Catley for the same title.

"I would love a rematch but it is unlikely so I guess I will just have to carry on being boxing's invisible man,'' said Catley, who has desperately tried to secure a fight with the Welsh world champion Joe Calzaghe for the last four years.