John 'The Gentleman' Hedges beats Lewis 'Mighty Oak' Oakford through unanimous decision for the Cruiserweight Southern Area Title.

The 10-round contest at the Copperbox Arena, Stratford was cut halfway after the referee decided not to let Oakford continue due to sustaining a deep cut to his left eyebrow.

In trying to get inside, Oakford accidentally clashed heads with Hedges in round six, causing a cut in the Ealing boxer's face.

The blood could not be stopped forcing the referee to call the fight.

The contest was scored 59-56, 59-56, 58-57, unanimously giving Hedges the win.

The TKO takees Hedges record to 10-0 and 'Mighty Oak's' to 5-1, the laters first career loss.

Up until the stoppage, 'The Gentleman' controlled the majority of the fight with his southpaw jab and one-twos landing - making it difficult for Oakford to find his rhythm.

The referee had to stop the contest in the sixth round between Oakford and Hedges after the former receivied a cut to his left eyebrow (credit: Cesar Medina).

Still, Oakford will feel hard done by the decision to stop the fight early, not giving him the opportunity to get back into the contest.

Reacting to his boxer's defeat at the Copperbox, Oakford's trainer and founder of BLASTFit, Matthew Hirst, told Nub News: "We didn't get the result we wanted.

"Lewis was just starting to find his range in rounds four and five which was reflected in one of the judges scorecard.

"Lewis was landing bigger shots and it was a matter of time before he hurt Hedges. Then the clash of heads ended the fight prematurely in round six and it went to the judges scorecards which had Hedges winning on a majority decision."

Oakford was beginning to find his rhythm in the fifth round before the bout was called off in the sixth (credit: Cesar Medina).

Hirst added: "We now go away, regroup and come again.

"Lewis showed he is up there with the top cruiserweights in the country and being a part of the big shows."

Event results

Johnny Fisher (12-0) vs Alen Babic (12-2): This heavyweight bout ended in just 36 seconds after 'The Romford Bull' landed a fury of exchanges to floor the Croatian in the opening round, forcing referee Mark Bates to call the fight.

Reece Bellotti (19-5) vs Levi Giles (15-2): Bellotti retained his British and Commonwealth Featherweight Championship after defeating Giles 118-110 twice and 117-110 over 12 rounds.

John Hedges (10-0) vs Lewis Oakford (5-1): Hedges beats Oakford on technical decision with the fight being scored 59-56 twice and 58-57, making him the new Southern Area Cruiserweight champion.

Maisy Rose Courtney (6-1) vs Jasmina Zapotoczna (8-1): Zapotoczna picked up the then vacant WBA International Flyweight title after defeating Courtney 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 over 10 rounds.

Giorgio Visioli (4-0) vs Tampela Maharusi (10-7-4): In six rounds, Visioli won after the referee Lee Every scored the bout 60-54.

Emmanuel 'Leli 'Buttigieg (5-0) vs Oliver Chudzik (3-1): Buttigieg won after the bout was scored 60-54 over six rounds.

Jimmy Sains (6-0) vs Damien Lacoudray (3-2-1): Referee Mark Bates called the six round bout in the fifth after Sains proved to much for Laco to handle.

Lewie Pochetty (3-0) vs Amine Boucetta (8-14): Over four rounds, Pochetty beat Boucetta 40-36.