SHAW’S Jack Rafferty is developing a taste for inside-the-distance wins. Going in, four of his last five opponents hadn’t made it through to the final bell and this latest one didn’t either. Mexican Fernando Valencia, halted just twice in 26 previous outings, almost made it at Oldham Leisure Centre, but not quite. He was stopped in the sixth and last round of a bout officiated by Phil Edwards.
There was a return for Preston’s Mick Hall who, far from easing his way back, jumped in with tough Sheffield-based Cameroonian Serge Ambomo. Hall didn’t have it all his own way but he did do enough to earn a 39-38 points win from referee Darren Sarginson.