Beijing gold medallist James DeGale was made to go the distance
British Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders got their professional boxing careers off to winning starts at Birmingham's NIA.
Gavin impressed in front of his home crowd, the Birmingham boxer halting George Kadaria in the fourth round.
Saunders did the job even quicker with a second-round win over Attila Molnar.
But Olympic gold medallist DeGale came in for a mixed reaction, being booed off after being taken the distance by little-known Georgian Vepkhia Tchilaia.
The 23-year-old Londoner, who they call 'Golden DeGale', entered the ring amid a huge fanfare in a golden robe.
But he showed only glimpses of the golden touch that had secured him his Olympic middleweight title in Beijing.
DeGale was still dominant enough to win every round on the judges' scorecards and earn a 40-36 points victory.
But he admitted that, in switching from four two-minute rounds as an amateur to four three-minute rounds in his first fight as a pro, and now minus his Olympic vest and headguard, he has taken only a very short step on what he hopes is a long career.
"The next year-and-a-half is a learning curve," he said. "You lot are going to see the best of me when someone is there and wants it just as much as me.
"People were telling me these journeymen come over and try and survive. It's true. I had to track him down and bang him around.
"I still had a couple of good shots but that's only 30% of me. I'm never happy with my performance, even in the Olympics, never."
I still had a couple of good shots but that's only 30% of me
James DeGale
DeGale started his pro career in front of a partisan home crowd who had already cheered three of their own to the rafters.
In an all-Midland contest, Dudley's Darren McDermott earned a 97-94 points decision against the holder, Coventry's Steve Bendall to claim the English middleweight title.
Undefeated Birmingham super-flyweight Don Broadhurst, 25, made a first successful defence of his Commonwealth title with a stoppage of Ghana's two 20 seconds from the end of the 11th round.
Broadhurst, trained by former WBC world super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall, made an electric start, flooring his opponent inside the first round.
And when he put Owusu down again in the 11th, this time it was stopped.

Frankie Gavin (right) was given huge support from his home crowdThen another Brummie, Gavin, raucously roared on by a 1,000-plus strong army of fellow Birmingham City fans, proved just as popular a victor.
It was Gavin's first fight since his heartbreaking failure to make the weight for Beijing, and he responded well to his move up from lightweight in the amateur ranks to welterweight at pro level.
Britain's first world amateur champion was made to work hard by Kadaria, the first of two Georgians on show, who attacked from the first bell and caught Gavin with a firm right hand.
But a deep cut to his nose after a clash of heads in the third round, which led to him needing six stitches, seemed to spur Gavin on.
The Georgian retreated before a series of shots to the body brought him to his knees. And, with just one minute and 21 seconds of the contest remaining, the referee stopped it.
"I've been in big fights before," said Gavin, "and this one was a tough opponent. But I've now got bright people around me and that's going to make all the difference."
606: DEBATE
Were you impressed by this new British boxing trio's first pro fights?
As for the first Olympian of the evening on show, 19-year-old Saunders dominated Molnar until the Hungarian finally quit, turning his back on his opponent one minute and 47 seconds into the second round.
The Romany gypsy fighter from Hertfordshire was at his opponent from the first bell, landing some heavy combinations from the off.
Against an opponent with a relatively respectable 12-12 record, Saunders seemingly could not miss, landing stiff jabs, hooks and right-handers.
A right uppercut was the pick of his first round shots but it was a string of blows to the head which forced the Hungarian's premature end.
There was also a comfortable four-round points victory for a third Brummie, Thomas Costello, who won a 40-36 verdict against Nottingham's Matt Scriven.

The standing committee forms part of the Greyhound Regulatory Board and is independently chaired by Non Executive Director, Steve Winfield. Committee members include Gordon Bissett, representing the Racecourse Promoters’ Association and Norah McEllistrim, Chair of the Greyhound Trainers’ Association. Declan Donnelly, Director of Regulation, Deputy Registrar Paul Illingworth and Stipendiary Steward Colin Betteridge, all of the GBGB complete the six strong team.Committee members are undertaking a review of the Rules of Racing, the regulations that set parameters for licensed greyhound racing in Great Britain. Bissett and McEllistrim are consulting their respective associations and members to ensure as wide a range of views are obtained on what the future Rules of Racing should contain. The first meeting of the committee agreed the importance of the rulebook being founded on inclusivity and fairness. A process will be developed to ensure that all those not represented on the committee will be able to offer suggestions for its future direction. The present rulebook was last reviewed in December 2008 and is currently under revision to incorporate language consistent with the new Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The amended version will be published in March 2009.More fundamentally it is intended thereafter to consult on an industry wide basis before producing efficient and manageable Rules that are acknowledged as fair and effective.Steve Winfield, Non-Executive Director of the Greyhound Regulatory Board, speaking after the meeting said:“The first meeting was very encouraging showing a deep commitment to making the review of its rules a success. It is very important that the review process allows everybody the opportunity to contribute to what, after all, is their rule book.‘Our intention is to produce a new set of rules which are clear, precise and unambiguous and which make it as easy as possible to comply. The process will assist our intention to become UKAS accredited and that also brings us into line with BERR guidelines (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform).”Feedback and comment on the Rules of Racing Review is welcomed. Please contact rulesofracingcommittee@gbgb.org.uk

Harrah's New Orleans has announced the schedule for the sixth annual Bayou Poker Classic, one of the perennial stops on the World Series of Poker Circuit tour. The New Orleans stop runs from May 8-20, 2009, and includes 20 different numbered events, plus an additional ten "second chance" tourneys during the evenings for players knocked out from other events or unable to make the midday starts. Among the features of the 2009 Bayou Poker Classic – among the oldest recurring WSOP Circuit stops – is the inclusion of five different pot-limit Omaha events. A sixth Omaha event, Limit Omaha 8-or-Better, starts on the series' first day. Other distinctive offerings include a $1,070 no-limit hold'em
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prelim on May 14th, the $340 ladies buy-in event on May 17th, and, of course, the $5,150 Circuit Main Event itself, a three-day tourney which begins on May 18th. Harrah's New Orleans will also run satellites and super-satellites into the Circuit main event, with entries as low as $225. More information on the Bayou Poker Classic is available at www.harrahsneworleans.com, and detailed information on all WSOP Circuit offerings can be found at www.worldseriesofpoker.com. The Bayou Poker Classic schedule of events: 5-8 12:00 PM Event #1 - No Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-8 5:00 PM Event #2 - Limit Omaha Hi-Low (8/B) (2-Day Event ) $340 5-9 12:00 PM Event #3 - No Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $550 5-9 5:00 PM Event #4 - Pot Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-10 12:00 PM Event #5 - No-Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $550 5-10 5:00 PM Event #6 - Pot Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-11 12:00 PM Event #7 - No-Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $550 5-11 5:00 PM Event #8 - Pot-Limit Omaha (2-Day Event) $550 5-12 12:00 PM Event #9 - No-Limit Hold'em (6 Handed) (2-Day Event) $550 5-12 5:00 PM Event #10 -No-Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-13 12:00 PM Event #11- No-Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-13 5:00 PM Event #12-Pot-Limit Hold'em/Omaha (2-Day Event) $550 5-14 12:00 PM Event #13- No-Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $1,070 5-14 5:00 PM Event #14- Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low (8/B) (2-Day Event) $340 5-15 12:00 PM Event #15-No Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $340 5-15 5:00 PM Event #16 -Pot-Limit Omaha/Rebuys (2-Day Event) $235 5-16 12:00 PM Event #17- No Limit Hold'em (2-Day Event) $550 5-16 5:00 PM Event #18 - Pot Limit Omaha (2-Day Event) $1,070 5-17 11:00 AM Event #19 - Ladies Championship No Limit (1-Day Event) $340 5-18 12:00 PM Event #20 - Circuit Championship Event (3-Day Event) $5,150

Madison du Berlais claimed Denman's scalp at Kempton earlier this month
Trainer David Pipe believes his charge Madison du Berlais is a live contender to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old beat Gold Cup holder Denman at Kempton three weeks ago and is now the 8-1 fourth favourite for the 13 March blue riband event.
"I didn't think I would be saying at the start of the year that we have a live Gold Cup candidate," said Pipe.
"He is a great horse and deserves his chance. He is young and improving and has place chances in the race."
Kauto Star, the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up last year, has been installed as favourite after stablemate Denman's defeat at Kempton.
Kauto Star reinforced his own claims with a third straight win in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, while another Paul Nicholls runner, Neptune Collonges, who handed the trainer a 1-2-3 in the Gold Cup 12 months ago, is third favourite.
606: DEBATE
I fancy Neptune Collonges for the Gold Cup
tj_hammerMadison du Berlais, who won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, will be ridden by Tom Scudamore, who will try to achieve what his famous father and Martin Pipe stalwart Peter never did - win a Gold Cup.
"This will be my fourth ride in the race, and up to now I have been having a good view of things (of the finish) from the top of the hill," said Scudamore.
"So it is great to be going there on a horse with a real live chance. We will see if his run when beating Denman was a true performance, but it was a tremendous performance on the day anyway.
"He has done us proud. I am really looking forward to it. He has won on good and soft ground, over all sorts of distances and goes left and right-handed.
"I don't know if I will have a sit on him again beforehand. I will leave that to Mr Pipe and the team. They have done a great job with the horse at home - he is in very good form."

Well after, to say the least , an eventful week or so in Antigua, the Test Match Special team have moved onto Barbados for the fourth Test in this intriguing series.
There certainly will be quite a contrast between where TMS was broadcast from in Antigua and our surroundings at the Kensington Oval.
The late move to the Antigua Recreation ground meant we were located in a makeshift commentary box which clearly had seen better days.
Although it has to be said that the people at the ground could not have done any more to help us feel comfortable, even though they clearly had much more important priorities to work on ... like getting the rest of the stadium ready for an international fixture with a day's notice!...
Although broadcasting in the open air was a little challenging at times , especially when the wind started to blow , we were able to experience all the excitement of the match -especially the dramatic final afternoon when Sir Vivian Richards simply could not sit down while commentating as he was so caught up in the action.
Here in Barbados we are housed in the magnificent new media centre at the refurbished Kensington Oval which is among others named after our legendary West Indies commentator Tony Cozier. We get fantastic views from our vantage point on the fourth floor not only of the ground but also of downtown Bridgetown and beyond.
This is only my second visit to the Kensington Oval. Two years ago I was here for the farcical World Cup final which provided a fitting climax to a tournament which will not be remembered fondly except by the Australians, who of course lifted the trophy.
After the officials inexplicably failed to interpret the rules correctly we ended up playing out a game in almost total darkness.
My overriding memory of that day was just after the last ball was bowled I went straight out onto the field to try and get some post match interviews.
It was quite literally pitch black out there to the extent that as I walked onto the field I failed to notice a group of performers on stilts almost walking straight into me!
They were part of a closing ceremony which sadly no-one saw because no proper lighting had been organised. It was that sort of evening.
Anyway let's hope things run smoothly this week.
As well as bringing you ball by ball commentary from 1330 on Thursday we also have lots of other interesting things for you.
During the lunch interval on the opening day of the match you'll be able to hear Jonathan Agnew's extensive interview with Giles Clarke, who despite the controversy over the Stanford affair has this week been confirmed as ECB chairman for another two years.
You will also be able to hear a fascinating chat with the man who represents the England players , PCA chief executive Sean Morris, who will have among other things the latest news on Andrew Flintoff and the IPL.
Other highlights include an interview with England's bowling coach Ottis Gibson who is of course originally from here in Barbados.
He'll be telling us about his debut for the island where he had the honour to open the bowling alongside West Indies and Barbados legend Malcolm Marshall.
Gibson's first four overs went for 28 runs, but he remembers getting sympathetic advice from Marshall. He now tries to offer similar words of wisdom to England's fast bowling attack.
Gladstone Small, another Barbados born fast bowler who went on to help England, will also be joining us in the Test Match Special box to share his memories of growing up here and helping to debate while so few recent England players come from the Caribbean community in the UK.
Other guests we are expecting include two of England's most successful spin bowlers Derek Underwood and Phil Tufnell - and as always who knows which other people may wander into the box over the next five days.
So join us from Thursday afternoon - and don't forget to check out the daily TMS podcast with Jonathan Agnew and Geoff Boycott.

Gavin Henson has not started for Wales in almost a year
Ex-captain Gwyn Jones says he expects Gavin Henson, James Hook, Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones to come into Wales' side to face Italy in Rome on 14 March.
But he told the BBC's Scrum V programme that changes will be less widespread than if Wales had beaten France.
"[Wales coach Warren Gatland] said he was looking to make quite a few changes but he may have to revise that [after the 21-16 loss in Paris]," said Jones.
The ex-flanker says Gatland has a major back-row headache over Jonathan Thomas.
"Thomas [who is just back from injury] is a good player, how [Gatland] figures four into three [with Martyn Williams, Andy Powell and Ryan Jones in Wales' back row]... he can have that headache," Jones told Scrum V.
"I think that [fly-half] Hook may play, Peel at nine, I think [wing] Mark Jones comes in and [centre] Henson will start.
606: DEBATE
Use the passing skills of Henson and Peel to add some variety to our game, bring JT in to freshen up the back row and Rhys Thomas as another ball carrier
JB 1973"He [Gatland] wants to see Henson, but perhaps not with Jamie Roberts - I think that Tom Shanklin was our best player on Friday."
A calf injury kept Henson out of the wins over Scotland and England, but he came off the bench in Paris, his first appearance for Wales in nearly a year.
Wales have never lost against a northern hemisphere side when Henson has started, and he partnered Shanklin to the Grand Slam in 2005 and 2008.
But Jamie Roberts has made a huge impression over the past year, and Gatland has twice tried to pair the Cardiff Blues centre with Henson, only to be denied by injuries to the latter.
"Henson needs game time and I think he must play for the Ospreys [against Leinster] this week," former Wales captain and fly-half Jonathan Davies told Scrum V.
Scrum V analysis: Where did it go wrong for Wales?
"Whether [Gatland] brings Hook and Henson in [against Italy] I'm not sure, but he can't make a lot of changes with a small squad. I'd start with Jamie Roberts again."
Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop and Blues flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor are the only players that the Welsh management have confirmed have been released to the Welsh regions for this weekend's Magners League action.
Peel will go back to Sale and Gareth Cooper - who has been suffering with a knee injury - remains with Gloucester, while there are no new worries over injuries or citations.
Scrum-half Martin Roberts, who has been with the squad on an unofficial basis, has returned to the Scarlets.
Former Wales captain and fly-half Phil Bennett cited a lack of game time for some of Wales' squad as a major concern.
Williams worries over selection
"How much rugby has Hook had over the past few weeks?" Bennett said on Scrum V.
"He only had a few minutes in Murrayfield, he didn't get on against England and he came on in the second half against France.
"A lot of players have not had the game time and that's proving costly for Wales.
"I'll be interested to see the make-up of the side, I can't see him [Gatland] making more than three or four changes."
*Wales are set to name their team to face Italy on Tuesday, 10 March at approximately 1300 GMT
Wales squad:
Forwards (16): Gethin Jenkins, John Yapp, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas, Dafydd Jones, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Robin Sowden-Taylor.
Backs (13): Mike Phillips, Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Gavin Henson, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Mark Jones, Lee Byrne.

Ogilvy went ahead at the first and never let Casey back in
Geoff Ogilvy beat Englishman Paul Casey 4&3 to win the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tuscon, Arizona.
Casey made a shaky start and was unable to get close enough to his Australian opponent to put any pressure on him.
Three up after 18 holes, Ogilvy, the 2006 champion and 2007 runner-up, forced home his advantage to take the $1.4m first prize.
In the third-place match, Englishman Ross Fisher was edged out by American Stewart Cink at the 18th to win 1up.
Despite having led for 79 of the 80 holes he had played in the tournament prior to Sunday, Casey made a nervous start to the 36-hole final at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
He immediately went one behind when he missed from four feet for birdie at the first after Ogilvy had already holed from six feet.
Casey, chasing a first PGA Tour win of his career, missed another short putt on the severely undulating greens, this time at the sixth to go two down.
606: DEBATE
I personally think Ogilvy is one of the very best players in the world, but does anyone think he can compete for more majors?
2 Slams Lleyton 09
Ogilvy increased the pressure by winning the eighth and ninth to go four up before Casey halted the Australian's momentum in spectacular fashion, holing out at the par-four 10th hole with his second shot from 204 yards for an eagle.
The par-five 11th should have gone to Casey after Ogilvy found trouble after pulling his second shot into the jaws of a cactus.
But after a penalty drop, the Australian hit his fourth shot just short of the green before chipping in for an unlikely par.
Ogilvy had his lead cut at the par-five 13th when Casey holed his first birdie putt of the match, but the former got the upper hand at the par-three 16th.
Three-time Ryder Cup player Casey gave himself a boost heading into the lunch break when he won the 18th with a birdie three from 11 feet.
But Ogilvy would not give him an inch when play resumed.
The Englishman rolled in a birdie putt from 40 feet at the 22nd, but Ogilvy simply rolled in his own birdie putt from close range for a half.
At the 25th, Casey again laid down the gauntlet, firing in an iron to around 15 feet from the green only for Ogilvy to match it and cash in when his rival missed his birdie putt.

Casey's highlight was an incredible eagle at the 10th
Looking to become the first Englishman to win this event, Casey bogeyed the par-four ninth to lose the 27th hole and go six down, but an eagle at the 29th gave him a glimmer of hope.
When the 30th was halved, Ogilvy stepped up on the 31st knowing the win was in sight, but Casey birdied to push the match to another hole.
Ogilvy finally had a putt for victory on the 33rd hole - and the Australian's nerve did not let him down as he stroked home.
"I was out of the blocks fast this afternoon and made three birdies over the first eight holes and still lost two holes, so he played great golf," said Casey.
"I threw a lot at him but he didn't flinch. It was very impressive.
"I didn't have enough, simple as that. I have no excuses, he just played excellent golf all day."
Ogilvy, who had beaten Northern Irish sensation Rory McIlroy in the quarter-finals, said he was delighted with how he had played in Arizona.
"The whole weekend I played fantastic. I played two unbelievable players yesterday, Rory is going to be one of the best players in the world," said Ogilvy.
"Stewart Cink is very hard to beat in this tournament, always up there, and then Paul today, one of the best players in the world, a really great competitor head to head.
"I've been on the wrong end in this final, it's not a very nice feeling, but it's a very satisfying week to play well, I'm really happy with this."
In the consolation match, Cink took the $600,000 third-place prize in dramatic fashion when he holed with a stunning chip from the bunker on the 18th.
Fisher led the opening exchanges, leading until the ninth when a bogey let his American rival back in to level things up.
A birdie from Cink at the par-three 16th pulled the match level and ensured a tense run-in.
And he hit his third birdie in a row on the 18th to take the match, leaving Fisher in fourth and a cheque for $490,000.

Everest Gaming Obtains Euro Gaming License Everest Gaming, operators of online site Everest Poker, announced today it had obtained a remote gaming licensed issued by European nation Malta. Everest is one of the oldest of all online sites, dating to 1997, and the company expects the official Maltese recognition to open the doors to more opportunities in the European market. PokerStars Gets Italian Real-money Go-ahead Leading online PokerStars was also in the news this week, with the announcement that it had received official approval to begin offering real-money online poker tournaments to Italian residents. PokerStars is among the first wave of online
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poker sites to receive official regulatory approval from the Italian government. Under the terms of the new certification from the Italian Monopolies of State (AAMS), real-money tourneys for Italian players became available on February 25th, with buy-ins currently ranging from €0.50 to €100. According to PokerStars Italian Country Manager Angeli Bufalini, "The online poker phenomenon has seen a huge growth recently and with the launch of PokerStars.it we aim to recreate in Italy the success that PokerStars has achieved worldwide. This is thanks to our industry renowned software and security which guarantees players a high level poker experience and support 24 hours a day." The special Italian events will be offered in a multi-phase expansion over the next several weeks. International Poker Network Announces International Championship of Poker (iCoP) The Euro-facing International Poker Network (also known as Boss Media) has announced its International Championship of Poker (iCoP), which will run March 9-15, 2009. The iCoP includes seven events with several different poker variants in the mix, with the buy-ins ranging from €60+6 to the €280+20 March 15th main event. Skins on the IPN network included CelebPoker, PokerHeaven, Virgin Poker and others.

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates winning his third League Cup
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to play down talk of his side winning the quintuple after their Carling Cup final win over Spurs.
They have won the Club World Cup as well and are still chasing the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Ferguson said: "I'm not getting carried away with it, only the media will. We will keep our feet on the ground.
"We could go to Fulham in the FA Cup, the ball comes off someone's backside and we are out of that one."
United centre-back Rio Ferdinand echoed his manager's sentiments as he refused to speculate on the Old Trafford club's potential for a historical season.
"We do not speak about that stuff [the quintuple]," he told Radio 5 Live.
"We'll take each game as it comes. We've got an important game on Wednesday [at Newcastle] and fingers crossed we can get a good result there.
"We don't get ahead of ourselves and think of which silverware we are going to win next."
But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes there is no reason why United cannot win an unprecedented haul of trophies.
"They have got a big chance - they are the team to beat for sure," said Redknapp after their 4-1 defeat on penalties.
"They have a fantastic squad. They have one cup already, it looks as if the league is going their way and you wouldn't bet against them in the Champions League and the FA Cup."
Goalkeeper Ben Foster was the United hero, making two fine saves during the game and then saving Jamie O'Hara's penalty in the shoot-out.
And Ferguson is confident Foster can go on to cement his place as the number one stopper at the club.
"The future is his," added the Scot. "The present belongs to Edwin Van der Sar, that is obvious, but that performance can only strengthen my opinion of Ben's ability and his own self-confidence.
"He is a strong character - he has had to be. He has had to come through two cruciate ligament injuries and you have to have something inside you to do that."
United's assistant manager Mike Phelan paid tribute to Foster and his team-mates for keeping alive the club's hunt for an unprecedented quintuple.
"In the end it came down to the goalkeepers and our one made a great save," said Phelan.
"Ben has been unlucky with the odd injury this season, but we know he's got quality and he can be a Man Utd goalkeeper.
PHIL MCNULTY BLOG
There is no reason why Man Utd cannot make this their greatest campaign
"It is important he gets games for us and what happened can only help us.
"It was a hard game and both sets of players were shattered at the end, they were cramping but they kept going and it's a good feeling when you win on penalties."
Foster, playing in only his seventh game of the season for United, was delighted to play his part in the win.
"I felt good from the start. I haven't played many games which isn't great, but it was great of the gaffer to give me a chance," said Foster.
"All the lads are heroes, they had to knock in the penalties and they looked super-cool, they all looked like they were going to score.
"If they hadn't, we wouldn't have our medals. I'm delighted we managed to win."
In an innovative move, the 26-year-old admitted that watching Spurs players take spot-kicks on goalkeeping coach Eric Steele's iPod after extra-time had helped him during the penalty shoot-out.
"We have done a lot of research into the way each player is going to put their penalty," said Foster.
"We went into the shoot-out as well prepared as possible.
"We have had things to look at over the last couple of days and before the shoot-out, you can see me looking at an iPod with Eric Steele.
"It had actual video on it and showed where players put things."
He added: "Eric brought it when he came to the club. I have never seen anything like it. It is a fantastic tool for us."