Lomax to consider future after defeat

MICHAEL LOMAX is considering his fighting future after failing in a gallant bid to take Kell Brook's British welterweight title in their clash on the Frank Warren promotion at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.

Lomax, a member of local trainer Paul Cook's stable, suffered his second defeat in a six-year pro career against the talented Sheffield fighter, who lived up to his 'Special K' nickname.

An ABA title winner during his own amateur career which included a spell at West Ham BC, the local fighter had hopes of a British title success to highlight his pro campaign, but he failed against an outstanding champion, who looks a genuine prospect for world honours.

Lomax, who claimed the �25,000 winners prize in the Matchroom Prizefight competition for welterweights in October last year, tried hard to cause an upset against the northern boxer, who is hailed as the 'new Naseem Hamed' by his hometown supporters.

He made a bold bid to upset Brook in the opening round, spearing his long-range southpaw punches through his rival's defences.

However, the champion was determined to record his 20th straight victory, with a success that would give him the Lonsdale belt outright, and he fired back with his own shots that clearly carried more explosive power than his opponent.

That set the pattern for the rounds that followed as the 30-year-old challenger found himself outgunned by the accurate and effective punches of the impressive 23-year-old champion.

Brook did most of the damage with solid right-hand punches which staggered the challenger and referee Dave Parris duly obliged with 19 seconds of the third round left - just as trainer Paul Cook was poised to throw in the towel.

It was a timely intervention and the champion celebrated his fifth straight inside the distance win - four of those victories coming in British title contests.