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LEE PURDY LOSES EUROPEAN TITLE FIGHT TO LEONARD BUNDU

Down and out! Purdy stopped by champ Bundu to lose brave Euro title challenge

By Martin Domin - dailymail.co.uk

If promoter Eddie Hearn had wanted to save on venue costs, he could have held Lee Purdy's ferocious fight with Leonard Bundu in a phone box.

But that would have deprived the crowd in London's Excel Centre of a brutal and absorbing contest.

In the end, just seven seconds shy of the final bell, Purdy was floored and then stopped as he lost his brave challenge for the European welterweight title on Saturday night.

Game over: Lee Purdy is stopped just before the final bell by Leonard Bundu

Bundu, who at 39 retains hope of fighting for world honours, was defending the belt he won in 2011.

Purdy, meanwhile, was fighting for the first time since he lost to then IBF world champion Devon Alexander in May.

And the first round set the tone for what would be a toe-to-toe war.

Neither man gave an inch as jab answered jab; hook answered uppercut. For every punch he took flush Purdy answered with a taunt or a tease; insisting he wasn't hurt.

Going down: Bundu knocks Purdy down during their European welterweight title fight

Down and out: Bundu celebrates after knocking down Purdy in the final round

Taking the count: Purdy gets up after being knocked down by Bundu

From the second round, Bundu sensibly looked to keep his opponent at range, managing the distance like the seasoned professional he is.

But Purdy cut down the ring well, forcing the muscular Italian to engage. And when he did, he landed the more eye-catching combinations and opened up a cut above Purdy's eye.

The Colchester man, who was roared on by a raucous home crowd, marched forward at will, looking to take Bundu into the trenches.

But the unbeaten visitor was boxing well against the brawling Brit whose negligible amateur career looks set to keep him from reaching the top.

From the middle rounds, Bundu was landing the bigger shots as Purdy began to swing wildly in vain.

On top: Bundu lands a shot on Purdy in his win over the British fighter

But when he hit the canvas in the 10th, it was ruled a slip.

And if the pace of the fight dropped a notch in the penultimate round, normal service was resumed in the final session.

Desperate to ensure nothing was left in the ring, both warriors threw in the kitchen sink.

But it was the champion who prevailed.

A right hand did the damage, sending Purdy on to his back and although he beat the count, another barrage of blows forced a sensible stoppage.

Mixed emotions: Bundu celebrates his victory as Purdy looks dejected

Earlier, Kal Yafai was deducted a point for repeatedly throwing low blows against Ashley Lane but went on to stop his opponent with one second remaining of the fourth round and continue his comeback from injury.

British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith fought for the first time in six months in a non-title bout against Jamie Ambler.

Smith, one of four boxing brothers from Liverpool, laboured to a points win over six rounds.

Former IBF bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell, meanwhile, won his second fight in three weeks against Spain's Abigail Medina

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Source: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2523945/Lee-Purdy-loses-European-title-fight-Leonard-Bundu.html