IAN NAPA suffered his first loss since March 2007, when he lost his European bantamweight title to French challenger Malik Bouzaine at Newham on Friday night, writes LEN WHALEY. The two-year winning run had brought Napa the European crown and hopes of a

IAN NAPA suffered his first loss since March 2007, when he lost his European bantamweight title to French challenger Malik Bouzaine at Newham on Friday night, writes LEN WHALEY.

The two-year winning run had brought Napa the European crown and hopes of a world title bid, but those dreams looked lost as he struggled against his taller, stronger Parisian opponent.

Bouzaine, who was fighting in just his 11th bout as a professional, piled on early pressure and maintained his attacks throughout the later rounds to move further ahead.

Napa did rally, but lost a unanimous decision 118-110, 117-11, 115-113 and admitted: "The guy pickpocketed the fight, he did what he had to do. But he won fair and square. I thought he'd slow down but he never did."

However, there were good wins on Frank Maloney's Newham promotion for his towering heavyweight prospects Larry Olubamiwo and Tom Dallas.

Former Repton amateur Olubamiwo slammed his fourth straight quick win - all inside two rounds - when he flattened Pole Michal Skierniewski with his powerful attacks in the opening round.

Tom Dallas, based in Canning Town's Peacock Gym, was also a first-round winner at the Newham Leisure Centre as he blasted out Swindon's Ben Harding with his opening assault.

* Edison Miranda, the Colombian super-middleweight, appeared at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Friday and hammered a fifth-round win over London-based Joey Vegas.

Canning Town-based flyweight Najah Ali was a points winner on the bill against Shaun Walton for his third straight pro win.

* Ashley Theophane, TKO Gym's lightwelter, boxed his way to a points victory over Glasgow rival Craig Docherty in the feature fight on promoter Miranda Carter's Sunday afternoon show at York Hall.

Theophane, loser of just one of his last 15 fights, controlled the fight with his superior skills to take the verdict after six rounds.

Former West Ham BC amateur Nathan Weise bounced back to winning form on the bill, with a good display against Cambridge rival Louis Byrne to take the points verdict.

Unbeaten TKO prospect Pat McAleese was also a points winner, showing his improvement as he defeated Lester Walsh over four rounds.

But new super-middleweight Matt Jack, also trained by Johnny Eames at the Newham gym battled boldly before dropping a decision against Patrick Mendys on the York Hall undercard.