Unexpected challenger Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva hurt Clarke in the eleventh round before claiming the UK heavyweight championship on scorecards
Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva defeated Frazer Clarke by split-decision to secure the UK heavyweight championship on a important night for the boxing, as live professional boxing returned to BBC linear television for the initial occasion in two decades
This wasn't a technical showcase at the Derby venue, with regular holding and tying up, but the bout exploded when Jeamie Tshikeva hurt Clarke with a devastating left hand in the 11th round
A dazed Clarke somehow managed to stayed upright and weaved back to his coaches
With his trainer poised to throw in the towel if he didn't respond, Clarke declared he could fight on and bravely survived the concluding stanza
The scoring judges scored it one fifteen to one thirteen and one fifteen to one twelve for Jeamie Tshikeva, while the final judge scored one fifteen to one twelve for Olympic medal winner Frazer Clarke
"It feels amazing I whooped him in his hometown," London native TKV, who was had a point taken for a body shot below the belt, said
"I understood he was going to cling, but he began tiring within the initial thirty seconds This isn't the Olympic competition anymore"
TKV Dominates Late to Stun Clarke
Clarke had early success in the beginning but Jeamie Tshikeva - who was frequently admonished for low blows - dominated in the final stages
Approximately 3,500 enthusiastic crowd crowded the smaller stadium, taunting TKV on his entrance
Frazer Clarke, from local Burton, earned a loud cheer in reply
Much to the audience's enjoyment, he established dominance in the first round, firing a jab to the midsection before throwing stinging rising blows that definitely hurt TKV
But the Tottenham man - whose background includes a fascinating history, with both his dad and grandfather working in the armed forces - displayed his fighting spirit and found his rhythm in the contest
The bout had originally been scheduled for the autumn before a rib problem forced Jeamie Tshikeva to pull out
The rescheduling stirred up bad blood, damaging a formerly civil contest
Clarke's corner constantly complained about body punches from TKV, some connecting on the blindside of the ring judge, who issued a admonishment in the third round
Shortly after, another questionable punch earned TKV the lost point
Straight punches were rare; instead, the contest became tying up from Clarke and heavy leaning from Jeamie Tshikeva, with overextending, predictable shots interrupting the contest
Jeamie Tshikeva found success with his left hook, and Clarke with his rising punch, but both men soaked up the shots as if they were bouncing off stone
Just as the contest seemed to be slowing down, TKV - his right eye badly swollen - detonated a left hook that left Frazer Clarke stumbling in the 11th stanza
Clarke stayed upright only by holding onto Jeamie Tshikeva, appearing confused as the official stepped in for a better view
His coach, his coach, looked ready to stopping the fight, but Clarke insisted he fight on
He left the arena without giving a post-fight interview, still looking stunned
Francesca Hennessy Impresses in Impressive Performance
In the co-main event, English fighter Francesca 'Billion Dollar Baby' Hennessy increased her winning run to 7-0 with a overwhelming points win over former lower weight class title holder her opponent
Following an spectacular ringwalk including a dance routine with a performance team, Hennessy, 21, showed quick footwork, crisp choice of punches and seamless combination punching
She achieved huge success by targeting the body of the twenty-nine-year-old opponent from Czech Republic - who previously held a championship belt at atomweight - as the scoring officials scored the entire fight to Hennessey
"BDB on the television, let's go, guys," the southern boxer declared, before calling out ex bantamweight world champion her potential next opponent
Clarke, Jeamie Tshikeva and Hennessy each contributed in what could be an crucial evening for boxing in Britain
While there wasn't a title fight or a famous fighter on the bill, but television coverage can connect with wider viewership, bring in teenagers into training facilities and expand the boxing in manners subscription boxing may find difficult to achieve
Time will tell what the real effect is, but if even several additional kids join their neighborhood gym on Monday, the evening will have had an impact
