Unexpected challenger Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva hurt Frazer Clarke in the eleventh round before securing the British heavyweight title on points
Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva beat Clarke by split decision to secure the UK heavyweight championship on a momentous evening for the sport, as live professional boxing came back to BBC linear television for the first time in twenty years
It was far from a technical showcase at Derby Vaillant Live arena, with constant holding and tying up, but the contest sparked into life when Jeamie Tshikeva hurt Clarke with a powerful left hand in the eleventh round
A dazed Frazer Clarke somehow remained standing and staggered back to his corner team
As his coach prepared to throw in the towel if he didn't respond, Frazer Clarke declared he could continue and valiantly survived the concluding stanza
The officials saw it one fifteen to one thirteen and one fifteen to one twelve for TKV, while the final judge scored 115-112 for Olympic bronze medallist Clarke
"This is incredible I whooped him in his back yard," Londoner TKV, who was deducted a point for a low blow, declared
"I understood he was going to cling, but he began tiring within the first 30 seconds We are not at the Olympic competition anymore"
TKV Dominates Late to Shock Frazer Clarke
Clarke had some success at the start but Jeamie Tshikeva - who was constantly cautioned for low blows - dominated in the championship rounds
Around 3,500 loud supporters crowded the intimate arena, taunting Jeamie Tshikeva on his ring walk
Frazer Clarke, from nearby Burton-upon-Trent, received a loud cheer in response
To the audience's enjoyment, he took control in the initial stanza, throwing a jab to the torso before landing stinging uppercuts that definitely hurt TKV
But the Tottenham man - whose background includes a compelling story, with both his father and grandfather serving in the armed forces - demonstrated his competitive heart and adapted to the contest
The match had originally been scheduled for October before a rib injury compelled TKV to withdraw
The delay reheated the rivalry, souring a formerly civil contest
Clarke's team frequently objected to illegal shots from TKV, some drifting in on the blindside of the referee, who delivered a warning in the third
Shortly after, another debatable blow caused Jeamie Tshikeva the penalty point
Jabbing were scarce; instead, the contest turned into tying up from Clarke and constant leaning from TKV, with overextending, obvious shots punctuating the contest
Jeamie Tshikeva found success with his hook, and Frazer Clarke with his rising punch, but the two competitors took the blows as if they were striking stone
Just as the bout seemed to be slowing down, TKV - his right eye heavily swollen - threw a left hook that left Frazer Clarke reeling in the 11th round
Frazer Clarke remained standing only by leaning into Jeamie Tshikeva, seeming disoriented as the referee approached for a inspection
His coach, his coach, looked set on stopping the fight, but Clarke demanded to continuing
He departed the arena without doing a after-fight media, still looking stunned
'Billion Dollar Baby' Shines in Stylish Victory
In the chief-support bout, British fighter Francesca Hennessy improved her perfect record to seven wins, no losses with a overwhelming unanimous decision over ex lower weight class title holder her opponent
After an impressive ringwalk featuring a dance routine together with a dance troupe, Francesca Hennessy, twenty-one, demonstrated quick movement, clean choice of punches and smooth combinations
She found huge success by attacking the body of the twenty-nine-year-old European boxer - who formerly owned a world championship at a lower weight class - as every judge scored all 10 rounds to Hennessey
"BDB on the BBC, here we go, guys," the southern boxer stated, before challenging former world title holder Shannon Courtenay
Clarke, TKV and Hennessy each contributed in what could be an important night for boxing in Britain
While there wasn't a world championship bout or a household name on the card, but free-to-air exposure can attract wider viewership, bring in young people into boxing gyms and develop the boxing in manners boxing on pay-per-view may have trouble to achieve
Only time will tell what the actual significance is, but if just a handful more youngsters enter their local boxing club on Monday, the evening will have had an impact
