Boxing: Eager Farnell makes hard work of first title defence

It was inevitable that Anthony Farnell's first defence of his World Boxing Union middleweight title against Russia's Nikolai Talalakin would contain few highlights.

Last year, Farnell was involved in two brutal and exciting title fights against South Africa's Ruben Groenwald; Saturday's fight was meant to be easier but in the end, it was still a difficult evening's work for Farnell.

At the end of round 10, the Russian was withdrawn by his corner men because of a twisted left knee but he was losing and there was no point in him fighting two more rounds. Farnell possibly over-trained and often allowed himself to get caught but that is not unusual for newly-crowned champions and when he returns in April, he will be a much better fighter.

In April, Farnell will move closer to a much-delayed domestic showdown with Croydon's Wayne Alexander, first planned three or four years ago when both boxers were light-middleweights.

They were due to fight on several occasions but have now moved to middleweight and the grand plan is for both to come through potentially difficult fights in April and then fight each other at Maine Road in Manchester in July when local idol Ricky Hatton defends his WBU light-welterweight title.

On Saturday night, at the Guild Hall in Preston, Farnell was desperately keen to impress his fans but as the rounds passed, his experienced corner man, Billy Graham, calmed him down and he noticeably improved as his composure returned.

* The brothers Frank and Eugene Maloney and the former professional Jim McDonnell have been summoned to appear before a disciplinary panel of the British Boxing Board of Control next month to discuss allegations that they may have breached the terms of their trainers' licences for helping in The Fight. The Maloneys trained the comedian Ricky Gervais for the televised charity bout, while McDonnell coached the businessman Grant Bovey.