Dumbarton boxer Martin Harkin took his professional record to 12-0 on Friday night with a straightforward points win over vastly experienced journeyman William Warburton.
BBBofC Celtic welterweight champion Harkin took to the ring at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow knowing that the bout would more than likely go the distance with Englishman Warburton having only been stopped three times in 198 fights.
Heavy hitting Harkin does possess explosive knockout power and did land a number of massive shots against Warburton, but he was more than happy to let his superior skill come to the fore in this one, winning all six rounds to finish the year with a comfortable win.
“I was satisfied with the win and how I boxed on Friday,” Harkin told Reporter Sport. “I thought I was sharp throughout and I was happy with the win.
“Warburton has been in with absolutely everyone. He’s been in with all the top prospects so it was good get in the rounds against him.
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“He actually came up to me after the fight and told me I was one of the hardest hitters he’s ever been in the ring with. That’s a huge compliment coming from someone like him. They call him the legendary journeyman for a reason, he’s so hard to finish and get out of there with a stoppage.
“Both my trainer and I were happy with the win and the performance, though, so there’s no complaints here.”
Originally lined up to box on the undercard of Kash Farooq and Lee McGregor’s all-Scottish clash at the Emirates in Glasgow earlier in November, Harkin revealed he was taken off the bill late on with promotion company MTK favouring one of their own.
And while that left the 27-year-old bitterly disappointed at the time, he admits he understands the decision and is now looking for more chances to showcase himself in 2020.
He added: “It would have been a massive chance to showcase myself on such a big stage but MTK got in touch the week before the fight and let me know.
“They had promised me a spot on the show so I was angry and disappointed at the time, but it’s part of the politics of the sport so I just had to put it behind me.
“My manager is looking to set up a British title eliminator early in 2020 so hopefully that’s one to look forward to now.”
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