Sport

Stoppage heartbreak for James Tennyson in Boston but he will be back say coach Tony Dunlop

Coach Tony Dunlop says Tennyson will recover to become a world champion
Coach Tony Dunlop says Tennyson will recover to become a world champion Coach Tony Dunlop says Tennyson will recover to become a world champion

THERE was only heartbreak for Belfast fighter James Tennyson as he headed back to his Boston hotel after losing out in his bid for the World super-featherweight title.

His dream of snatching the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title belt from the holder, tricky Pennsylvanian southpaw Tevin Farmer, had come to a premature end at the TD Gardens fight night venue.

Despite his best efforts, Tennyson couldn't quite nail the tricky Farmer in the first four rounds and was then dropped to the canvas with a wicked body shot.

Referee Arthur Mercante called a halt in the fifth (far too quickly for a world title fight said Tennyson's coach Tony Dunlop afterwards) after another whipping punch to the body again took the wind out the gutsy west Belfast fighter.

Dunlop had witnessed Tennyson come back sensationally in his last bout and knew well his staying power and punching prowess..

Back in May, he was floored by a powerful body shot but rose from the canvas to stop Martin J Ward at the O2 Arena in Greenwich and land the European and Commonwealth super-featherweight belts along with the World Boxing Association International super-featherweight title.

It wasn't to be in Boston.

In round five, a straight left backed Tennyson up and Farmer stepped back to admire the damage he inflicted with another powerful body shot. 

The end was only seconds away though and once again it’s a body shot that did the damage.

Tennyson bravely struggled up at four but referee Mercante waved it off with a minute and 44 seconds gone.

Afterwards coach Dunlop said: “James has come back from knocks before, he’s very dedicated and he’s improving every day. His manager (Mark Dunlop) gets him the best sparring, I’ve been training him and I know he will be back.

“He has another four good years before he hits his prime.”

Full results as follows:

Vacant WBO World Middleweight title: Demetrius Andrade bt Walter Kautondokwa UD

IBF and WBA World Female Lightweight titles: Katie Taylor bt Cindy Serrano UD

IBF super0featherweight title: Tevin Farmer bt James Tennyson TKO5

Featherweight: Kid Galahad bt Toka Kahn Clary UD

Super-lightweight: Tommy Coyle bt Ryan Kielczweski UD

Super welterweight: Mark DeLuca bt Walter Wright UD

Featherweight: Scott Quigg bt Mario Briones TKO2

Welterweight: Daniyar Yeleussinov bt Matt Doherty TKO1

Heavyweight: Niall Kennedy bt Brendan Barrett UD

Super-lightweight: Sean McComb bt Carlos Galindo TKO3