Glove actually: brutal fight was boxing back to its best

Jeamie TKV is the new British heavyweight champion after a split decision win in a brawl against Frazer Clarke. The raw statistics will never be enough to tell the story of 12 relentless rounds of fighting.

- STEVE BUNCE

At midnight on Saturday night, inside the Vaillant Live in Derby, Clarke wanted to speak to his mother, and TKV was still trying a lopsided and painful grin. It was a study of contrasts and suffering. And they did both suffer during and after their bruising, bad-tempered and personal fight.

At the end of 12 rounds, they were both exhausted, unsteady on their legs and bruised. TKV’s right eye was nearly closed, and Clarke was spitting out dark blood. It was close, but the right man got the vote.

The fight was the first seen across primetime BBC for over 20 years, and it was a harsh reminder of just how savage, brutal and brilliant the noble art can be. It was also too hard, especially for Clarke during the last two desperate rounds.

Right now, there is a lot of idle talk about boxing losing its edge, contrived fights, choreographed exhibitions and D-list celebrities slapping each other, but Clarke and TKV restored the sport’s good name on a massive night.

It was not always pretty, but it was impossible to turn away, especially as the later rounds slowed the pair down, and they each took long and powerful swings at each other. It was a unique night of pain and sacrifice for BBC 2; forget staged drama, this was a real story played out over 36 minutes of action.