BURY boxing star Ady Lewis failed in his attempt to win back the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles at Nottingham's Harvey Hadden Sports Centre.

The Mighty Atom was stopped in the seventh round by local favourite Nicky Booth who looked every inch a champion.

In what was a magnificent fight Lewis gave his all winning the full respect of the fast improving Booth and looked to have the champion in trouble with some punishing body shots seconds before a left hook to the kidneys put the Bury man on his knees.

Booth's longer reach and powerful combinations gave him the edge in the early rounds with Lewis always trying to get inside to deliver his trademark powerful body shots.

"I got hurt in quite a few of the rounds," said Booth, paying tribute to Lewis' power and tenacity. "But you've got to grit your teeth and keep going.

"We both started fast but I delivered the best punch. Not a lot of people rock Lewis like that."

The champion stunned Lewis with a left hook in the first then at the bell in the second a replica shot had the Bury man in all sorts of trouble.

Lewis cleared his head enough to enjoy some success on the inside throughout the third round then in the fourth, his best, his body shots looked, at last, to be taking their toll on Booth.

The fifth and sixth rounds swung one way and then another but in the seventh Booth's resiliance paid off.

Ironically it looked as if Lewis had turned the fight his way with a crunching left that visibly stiffened Booth.

But before Lewis could capitalise on the champion's discomfort Booth forced himself off the ropes to deliver a left of his own to the challenger's kidneys that left him helpless.

The Bury man made the count but referee Richie Davies wisely stopped the contest.