Former British flyweight champion Tommy Frank forfeited his unbeaten record after an injured left shoulder saw him withdrawn after the eighth round against Mexican Rosendo Hugo Guarneros at Dennis Hobson’s innovative, drive-in show at Sheffield Arena Car Park on Friday night.
Sheffield’s Frank (13-1, 3 KOs) showed considerable heart amongst the heartbreak, fighting one-handed for five rounds after sustaining the injury in the third. His guts in adversity impressed Hobson who believes his man will still achieve success after a period of recuperation.
“I promise you he will win something big,” said Hobson. “He doesn’t realise what he has proved to me. You have seen it before with me with Clinton Woods, Stuart Hall and Jamie McDonnell who came to me after a loss [to win world titles]. That is a loss, but it is a learner not a loss.”
Guarneros, who dropped a 10-round decision to Sunny Edwards at York Hall in September 2019, started briskly before Frank weathered the storm and began to drive the Mexican backwards in the second. Halfway through the third, Frank boxed one-handed as the injury became starkly evident.
The visitor ramped up his workrate but Frank creditably remained a live dog on a tough night, stunning Guarneros (18-4-2, 9 KOs) with a right hand in the fifth. But in a 12-rounder that serious injury was simply too much to overcome and, after Guarneros maintained a steady drip of pressure, referee Mark Lyson accepted Frank’s retirement in his corner after the eighth.
Hobson’s unique drive-in show saw a large crowd beep their car horns in approval on an otherwise successful promotion.
In other action, Kane Salvin won the Central Area super-featherweight title with a 97-94 verdict over Sufyaan Ahmed whilst heavyweight Kash Ali dominated before stopping Phil Williams via a third-round retirement.
Romanian Gabriella Mezei defeated Northern Ireland’s Cathy McAleer in a bantamweight four-rounder – earning a 39-37 decision.