Rampant Jephcott adds a Midlands belt to his vest

Jephcott admitted afterwards that Keys was the biggest puncher he had faced and it needed a change in tactics, orchestrated by brother and coach Tommy, for the Cleary’s boxer to take control of the bout.

After a sluggish first round, the 23-year-old grew into the fight and landed so many unanswered clean punches in the third round that it was a surprise the contest was not stopped.

However, Jephcott had done more than enough to gain the decision and will now go into tomorrow’s pre-quarter-final against Canvey Island’s Billy Simpson in good heart.

Meanwhile, Cleary’s ABC stablemate Wali Jan Khan claimed a unanimous decision against Heart of England’s Ricki Goddard at Hinckley FC.

Khan was also slow to get into his stride, but came out all guns blazing in the second round to put Goddard on the back foot.

With the home boxer blowing, Khan pressed for a finish in the final round only to be deducted a point after failing to hear the referee give Goddard a standing count.

With the crowd on its feet, Khan carried on punching and, although a second standing count and second deduction quickly followed, Goddard hung on to hear the final bell.

Khan was boxing in Sheffield last night against Ingle Boxing Academy’s Majibur Ali in a rematch of their recent The Assembly clash.

Junior Witter, Kell Brook Kid Galahad and Johnny Nelson are expected to be in attendance at the Sheffield show.

Khan will also be in action on the Cleary’s ABC pre-Christmas show at The Assembly on Friday December 13.

The show will also see the first appearances of the season for Sean Greenfield, Myles Vale and Nav Singh Manku.