However the decision was split, with judge Trevor Arno scoring it 58-56, Eion Jardine 58-57 and Ian Alves 57-58. Chronicle Sport had it 58-57 for Matthews.

The scorecards reflected the closeness of the encounter that thrilled the large crowd in six rounds of clean and competitive boxing.

Holder started out businesslike to claim the first round on Chronicle Sport’s scorecard. He landed lefts to head, followed with rights to body. Matthews began scoring some stiff lefts to head towards the close.

STILL going: A bruised Errol Trotman eyes Linden Arthur who gets in one to body.
From the second round, Matthews landed the stiff lefts with increasing frequency, which kept out Holder. In the next round, Holder worked hard to get in close to score some good body shots. Matthews used his reach to land left-right combinations, but Holder had done enough to take the round.

Matthews was scoring at will with his stiff lefts at the start of round four. Holder got in some to body, but Matthews scored some good ones just before the bell to tilt the round to him.

In the fifth round, Matthews scored consistent lefts to head, even getting in some rights. Holder, however, stalked him and also got in some good body and headshots for an even round.

Matthews took the fight in the final round looking pretty, dancing and landing lefts and overhand rights. Holder just could not lock onto him for any effective shots.

As expected, Leon Moore needed just 1:25 seconds to end the opening bout against Wayne Coates. Moore sent him to the canvas with the first shot in the fight, a right hook to head.

Moore landed an overhand right to head and Coates hit the canvas a second time. The fight ended with a right hook to Coates’ jaw, and as he thumped his butt a third time, the referee stopped the fight for a technical knockout (TKO).

The fight of the night turned out to be the Linden Arthur/Errol Trotman’s featherweight scrap, over six rounds. Arthur eventually won a majority decision. Judge Alves scored it 57-55, Arno 57-56 and Harold Duncan 56-56. Chronicle Sport’s card was 57-56 for Arthur.

Arthur began with some crisp left shots to head, and Trotman had to be given a standing eight-count. Trotman came back well to land some good uppercuts, shots to the mid-section and used the ropes nicely. Still Arthur took the round. Both men adopted the southpaw style.

Trotman changed to orthodox style in the second round, got in some good body shots in the early stages then changed to the head. Arthur scored to mid-section, even tagging Trotman towards the close, but Trotman came back to end stronger, taking the round.

In the third round, Trotman used left jabs to head, worked on the body, and landed a few right hooks. Arthur came on strong in the closing minutes and Trotman clinched at the end, but did enough to claim the round.

Trotman continued scoring with left jabs, effectively keeping Arthur out. His right hooks to head were off target, but got in body shots. Arthur landed a few power shots but not enough.

Round five started with even exchanges but towards the end, Arthur had the edge. The deciding round was the sixth as Arthur came out strong and a right cross had Trotman counted. More right crosses came but the referee ruled a slip when Trotman went down. Chronicle Sport scored the round 10-8.

The third bout between Laurex Benn and replacement Devon Luke ended with a technical draw in the first round. As Luke attacked, Benn tried using the ropes, which were very slack, and nearly passed through. Luke injured his hand as he too fell over Benn. The ring doctor advised the referee to stop the contest.

Gwendolyn ‘The Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil won a one-side bout with the referee stopping it in the second round. But the rope problem again had judge Arno leaping from his table to push O’Neil back into the ring as she tried using them.

Four amateur bouts preceded the professional encounters. Orett Harris got a 2-1 decision over Ernest Alexander after a bruising bout and John Henry put away Romel Joseph 1:35 minutes in the first round. Shawn Harris retired after an onslaught from Rudy Fraser who was eventually adjudged Best Boxer. The corner of Eustace Felix threw in the towel to save him from James Walcott.