Big-hitting TKV Stuns Clarke to Claim British Crown

Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva beat Frazer Clarke by divided verdict to win the UK heavyweight championship on a momentous night for the sport, as professional boxing action returned to BBC linear television for the first time in two decades

It was far from a display of technical skill at the Derby venue, with frequent holding and clinching, but the bout came alive when Jeamie Tshikeva stunned Clarke with a powerful left hook in the eleventh round

A dazed Clarke somehow remained standing and weaved back to his corner team

As his coach prepared to stop the fight unless he responded, Clarke declared he could carry on and bravely fought through the last round

The scoring judges scored it one fifteen to one thirteen and 115-112 for TKV, while the remaining official went 115-112 for Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke

"It feels amazing I whooped my opponent in his hometown," Londoner Jeamie Tshikeva, who was lost a point for a body shot below the belt, declared

"I understood he was going to hold on, but he started breathing heavily within the opening half-minute We are not at the Olympic competition anymore"

TKV Dominates Late to Shock Clarke

Around 3,500 loud supporters packed the intimate arena, jeering TKV on his walk to the ring

Frazer Clarke, from local Burton, received a enthusiastic welcome in reply

To the crowd's pleasure, he asserted himself in the opening round, snapping a straight punch to the body before throwing sharp upward punches that obviously bothered Jeamie Tshikeva

But the fighter from Tottenham - whose family has a compelling story, with both his dad and grandfather serving in the military forces of Zaire - demonstrated his determination and found his rhythm in the fight

The match had initially been planned for October before a injured rib forced Jeamie Tshikeva to pull out

The postponement reheated the rivalry, souring a previously respectful competition

The challenger's coaches frequently objected to low blows from TKV, some landing on the blindside of the official, who issued a admonishment in the third round

Soon afterward, another debatable blow caused TKV the penalty point

Straight punches were scarce; instead, the fight became tying up from Clarke and constant leaning from TKV, with lunging, obvious shots interrupting the fight

Jeamie Tshikeva was effective with his left hand, and Clarke with his upward blow, but the two competitors took the punches as if they were striking concrete

Just as the bout seemed to be petering out, TKV - his right eye significantly puffed - threw a left hand that left Frazer Clarke staggering in the eleventh round

Frazer Clarke stayed upright only by holding onto TKV, looking lost as the referee approached for a inspection

His coach, his coach, looked ready to pulling him out, but Clarke insisted on carry on

He exited the boxing ring without giving a after-fight media, still appearing dazed

'Billion Dollar Baby' Shines in Dominant Win

In the chief-support bout, English fighter Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy extended her perfect record to seven wins, no losses with a overwhelming unanimous decision over former lower weight class world champion Fabiana Bytyqi

After an eye-catching entrance featuring a dance routine with a dance troupe, Francesca Hennessy, twenty-one, demonstrated precise movement, crisp punch selection and seamless combinations

She achieved significant success by attacking the midsection of the twenty-nine-year-old opponent from Czech Republic - who previously held a world championship at atomweight - as every judge scored all 10 rounds to Francesca Hennessy

"BDB on the BBC, let's do this, baby," the Kent fighter said, before naming former bantamweight world champion Shannon Courtenay

Clarke, Jeamie Tshikeva and Francesca Hennessy each contributed in what could be an important night for boxing in Britain

Although there was no a world-title fight or a household name on the schedule, but free-to-air exposure can reach new fans, draw youth into boxing gyms and grow the boxing in ways boxing on pay-per-view may have trouble to manage

Only time will tell what the true impact will be, but if even a few more kids walk into their neighborhood gym on the following day, the event will have made its mark