The season of goodwill – forget it!

GYM PALS Matthew Marsh and Marc Callaghan forgot all about the season of goodwill on Friday night to battle it out on the Matchroom show at York Hall.

Marsh took the points verdict, but both winner and loser were left with unwanted facial damage to heal.

The pair had previously sparred hundreds of rounds in Canning Town's Ultrachem TKO Gym.

"We were even sparring before this show, until we knew we were facing each other," explained Callaghan, who finished with an ugly swelling on his temple.

Marsh needed eight stitches in a gash over his eye which temporarily threatened his British super-bantamweight title duel with Jason Booth, set to take place at Nottingham's Harvey Hadden Arena on February 12.

"We were worried that we might have to request a postponement," explained his trainer-manager Johnny Eames. "But the injury is not deep and should heal okay, with seven weeks to go before the title fight."

Callaghan, 31, battled all the way in a game attempt to end a losing run against talented rivals.

Marsh was the first opponent in his last five fights to have a single defeat on his record, and that loss came when he stepped out of his own division to bid for a WBU world title at featherweight.

With only one previous fight this year, Marsh, who earlier gave up the British title at super-bantamweight, came back to win the English belt in September, clearly needed the workout that the durable Callaghan provided.

Marsh, 27, provided his usual brand of sharp attacks to dominate the action, boxing steadily from the half-way stage after suffering an eye injury.

The game Callaghan, who formerly held the English super-bantamweight title, tried all the way and even rallied to take a round, but clearly needs less capable opposition to end his losing run.

Referee Ian John Lewis eventually scored it 59-56 for Marsh.