RYAN Barrett has brought the British bareknuckle boxing championship back to Coalville.

Barrett faced a fearsome opponent in Dorian Darxh at London’s O2 Arena.

The Welshman has been hardened by a professional gloved career that included a fight with Anthony Joshua and was dropping down from heavyweight to contest the vacant cruiserweight championship.

Barrett found the punches to stop him in the third of a scheduled five rounds.

The doctor ruled Darch couldn’t continue after Barrett opened cuts over both his eyes.
The 34 year old said afterward: “I rolled the dice and now I’m the British champion.

“Dorian was loading up on big punches and I said to myself: ‘Relax and throw straight shots’ and that’s how I got him out of there.”

Barrett opened a cut on Darch’s left eyebrow in the opening round and the doctor examined the wound in the second after another pinpoint right hand worsened the injury.

The Welshman was allowed to continue, but early in the third, Barrett landed a sweeping left hook that opened a cut on Darch’s right eyebrow and the fight was waved off.

Barrett added: “I love bareknuckle boxing. If you’re not who you say you are, you get found out.”