THIS was the contest that Ted Bami s trainer Hackney s James Cook MBE believed could propel his man back into the European title reckoning. But for the early rounds of Bami s main supporting contest on the Matchroom Sports promoted David Barnes-Barry Morr

THIS was the contest that Ted Bami's trainer Hackney's James Cook MBE believed could propel his man back into the European title reckoning.

But for the early rounds of Bami's main supporting contest on the Matchroom Sports promoted David Barnes-Barry Morrison televised British light-welter title clash, from the Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, the Hackney trained fighter was worringly outboxed.

Some ringside observers had Bami behind in every round until the sixth, although I felt he had just inched ahead, before the Hackney trained former European title-holder started to get under the right jab of Midlands opponent Stuart Elwell.

Elwell, from Darlaston, West Midlands, had fought and lost an English title bid, but used his extra height and slick jab to good effect throughout the first half of the fight.

His southpaw style also seemed to puzzle Bami as the Zaire born boxer tried to get in close. It resulted in a lot of holding and something of an untidy contest.

Elwell picked his man off nicely early on and Bami seemed to have little answer and was clearly behind at around round five.

But then under instruction from his respected trainer, began to get under the jab and started to make the extra power of his uppercuts and solid body punching have an effect.

After a much better sixth round, it was in the following round that the whole complexion of the fight changed.

Elwell was noticeably tiring and unable to re-produce the slickness of the first four rounds.

Bami caught him with a slick left hook followed by a right hook to the body and the Midlands boxer sagged and was forced to take an eight count.

He beat the count, but was soon in trouble again as Bami clearly smelled victory and another heavy barrage with the Hackney trained man throwing two powerful left hooks to the body, had Elwell pinned against the ropes, unable to defend himself.

Referee Phil Edwards stepped in to wave it off with around 20 seconds of the round remaining to give Bami win number 21 from his 24 pro contests.

But whether his early fight form would convince his promoters and trainer that he is back in the sort of shape that would earn him another crack at the European title is debatable.

Bami had he was stripped of for not defending last year, following a shoulder injury. In an after-fight interview on Sky Sports; Bami still complained of being troubled by the shoulder injury in Friday night's win!