City man in agonising bareknuckle boxing defeat at the O2 Arena

City man Martin Reffell was on the wrong end of a desperately tight points decision in his big bareknuckle boxing rematch at the O2 Arena.

Paulie Malignaggi – the two-weight world gloved champion who is now fighting with BKB – Reffell (39) did enough to win the opening three rounds of his rematch against Scott McHugh in London.

placeholder image — Martin Reffell (left) in action.

But after five rounds, McHugh had his hand raised after taking a split points decision.

One judge had Reffell winning the fight 48-47, but was overruled by scores of 48-47 and 49-46 for the Leeds fighter.

The final round was decisive. The previous four rounds had been tight with Reffell having success when he smothered McHugh.

McHugh had the edge in the final three minutes to repeat the points win he had over Reffell at the same venue back in September, 2022.

Reffell took that fight at only a few days’ notice and though he had more time to prepare for the rematch, it went ahead at super-welterweight, a division below his strongest fighting weight.