BRAVE Charles Shepherd failed by half a point to win the British super featherweight title from champion PJ Gallagher at the Erith Sports Centre in Kent.

The 25-year-old, born in Burnley and managed by Jack Doughty, fought his heart out for 12 compelling rounds that Sky TV pundit Barry McGuigan described as "the fight of the year".

In the final round he knocked Gallagher to the canvas as the relentless pace looked like catching up on the fading champion.

But the traveller, now based in Tottenham, stuck around long enough to hear the final bell and immediately had his arm raised by Wolverhampton referee John Coyle whose score of 117-1161/2 reflected the closeness of the bout.

"I'm very disappointed - I thought I did enough to win the fight," said Shepherd, who seems likely to secure a rematch for the belt before long.

"But the referee made his decision and that's fine by me.

"I forced the issue all night - I never gave him a moment's respite.

"But he's a good champion, he has a lot of heart and I hope he takes care of the title until the next time we meet."

Shepherd was cut twice during the contest but refused to let the injuries deter him.

Round after round he bombarded Gallagher with thunderous punches and unremitting pressure.

But the champion stuck rigidly to his task and warred with Shepherd after abandoning plans to use the jab and try to outbox him.

By the halfway mark Gallagher had established a lead but in the eighth round Shepherd caught a second wind and resumed his two-fisted barrage.

He produced a strong 11th round before firing a right which knocked his man to the floor with a minute remaining in the 12th.

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