At Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers FC, Birkenhead, on Saturday night, Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd had opponent Antonio Horvatic on the canvas four times before Referee Mark Lyson waved the contest off in round 3.

The Steve Wood – VIP Boxing Promotions show billed as ‘Birkenhead Baby’ featured five undercard bouts, results as follows:

Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd (Birkenhead) v Antonio Horvatic (Croatia)
8 x 3 International Challenge Super-Lightweight Title

Dodd’s ring entrance took almost as long as the fight itself (!) with belts raised aloft by recent Commonwealth Boxing Champion –

After a bungling down earlier in the round, Horvatic was forced to take a standing eight count when a clubbing left clipped the temple and he is seen to stumble back on the ropes momentarily with just over a minute of round two remaining. A left to the body saw Horvatic on his knees mid-way through the third. Dodd landed a barrage of head-shots then the Croatian took another shot to the body in the last 40 seconds of the round and takes to a knee. Seconds later he falls to his knees again following shots to the head and, with Horvatic standing for the count, Referee Mark Lyson waves the contest off.

Dodd will face Thomas Stalker on the 30th September.

Mark Evans (Holyhead) v Ricky Starkey (Liverpool)
6 x 3 Super-Featherweight Contest

A big right landed on Evan’s nose right on the bell at the end of round 1 and his nose started to pour with blood. It turned in to a blood-fest as both he and Starkey became covered in blood from Evan’s nose. In just over 2 minutes of round 3 Starkey is on the canvas from a right to the head, he takes the count and fighting resumes but in 1 min 16 of the round he is floored by a left to the chin. He falls heavily on the canvas and is given some attention by ringside medics but recovers to stand for the decision.

Evans by TKO round 3

Ged Carroll (Liverpool) v Jamie Quinn (Stourport)
4 x 3 Super-Lightweight Contest

Carroll wins on points 40-36

Colin Day (Skelmersdale) v Steve Backhouse (Salford)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Backhouse is on the canvas from a right in round 2 then – an onslaught to the head sees him falling to his knees just moments later. He stands for the count but Referee Darren Sarginson stops the fight. ‘Boom Boom’ Day wins by TKO in 2 mins 20 of round 2

Tom McGuinness (Liverpool) v Michael Mooney (Worcester)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

McGuiness wins on points 40-36

Brendan Kenwright (Debut)(Liverpool) v Danny Little (Driffield)
4 x 3 Middleweight Contest

Kenwright wins his first professional contest on points 39-38