By S. Noble

29.07 - It wasn't topping the bill, and it didn't last very long but Mihaly Kotai put on one of the most impressive displays of the evening on Saturday night in Nottingham. His opponent was the tough journeyman Howard Clarke. Unfortunately for Clarke Kotai demonstrated why he was given the nickname "Tornado" with a devastating display of punching.

Clarke, who had gone the distance with many of Britain's top light middleweights, was dismantled inside the first round. From the opening bell, it was clear that Kotai had no intention of staying in the ring any longer than he had to. Clarke was swiftly backed into a neutral corner and after taking some brutally quick combinations to head and body he took a knee rather than get knocked down. Although he looked capable of continuing Clarke had clearly had enough and indicated to the referee that he didn't want to take any more punishment.

Kotai's display against an admittedly limited opponent was still extremely impressive. Clarke, who had managed to survive four rounds with Fernando "El Feroz" Vargas earlier in his career, looked shocked by the power of the Hungarian star. For Kotai the fight was another step in his smooth progression through the professional ranks.

Elsewhere on the card young Polish heavyweight Albert "Dragon" Sosnowski endured a frustrating four round contest. His opponent, Paul Bonson, entered the ring intent on survival at any cost. With seemingly no intention of doing anything other than clinging to Sosnowski for as long as possible, Bonson effectively killed the fight as a spectacle. A learning experience for the heavyweight hopeful, who was clearly disappointed that he was unable to end the fight early.

Roberts Exposed As Russian Pestraiev Takes Title

In an uninspiring contest, Russian challenger Andrei Pestraiev convincingly beat British light-middleweight Steve Roberts. In fact, although Roberts went the distance, the fight should probably have been stopped in the eighth round. Having been knocked through the ropes, Robert regained his feet, only to face an onslaught from the challenger, Roberts appeared unable to defend himself, taking several punches cleanly on the chin. If the knockdown had not occurred so close to the end of the round John Coyle would almost certainly have had to step in.

Roberts showed great bravery in coming out and contesting the next round, but the Russian was in control by this stage and Roberts had little option but to run for the rest of the fight, having already been docked a point in the sixth for holding. In the end a majority points verdict was generous to the home fighter, who never really looked able to hurt his opponent.

Up until the eighth round the fight had been remarkable only for the lack of meaningful action. Roberts was content to box on the outside, but the point deduction removed an important part of his gameplan. Unable to hold the Russian close in, Roberts began to feel the effects of Pestraiev's attack to the body. Although Roberts had seemed to have control of an extremely dull fight, Pestraiev had begun to catch up with him by the sixth round and looked a much stronger fighter.

The defeat is particularly damaging for Roberts, as before the fight he complained of the lack of domestic opponents prepared to fight him. His plans of looking to the United States for a better class of opponent are now in tatters. Indeed there are plenty of European fighters who would fancy their chances against Roberts, who has looked increasingly vulnerable. For Pestraiev, the title, while not highly regarded gives him the chance for final tilt at the world title.

Kotai Looking to Impress