Barnet's Spencer Oliver retained his European super-bantamweight title at Alexandra Palace on Saturday ` but only after a gruelling battle with Italian veteran Vincenza Belcastro.

Oliver kept his unblemished record on a split decision but his 13th straight win proved the toughest of his career.

Belcastro, outpointed by Naseem Hamed three years ago, took up the 22-year- old Londoner's invitation to stand toe to toe and Oliver, cut in the seventh, will earn easier pay packets than this.

Review courtesy of
Sky Sports Boxing News