Photo Gallery: Nathan Cleverly vs Danny McIntosh

The past Saturday night at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, Nathan Cleverly and Danny McIntosh slugged it out for the vacant British light-heavyweight title. Also at stake was Cleverly's Commonwealth crown.

Photographer Justin McKie was ringside to capture all the hard hitting action.

Nathan Cleverly vs Danny McIntosh

Photos © Justin McKie - Click on the images to enlarge. A confident looking Danny McIntosh raises his arms to acknowledge the crowd before the start of the contest. The 29 year old light-heavyweight from Norwich brought a perfect 10-0 record into the ring. Young Welshman Nathan Cleverly slips a jab in the early going. The highly regarded 22 year old Commonwealth champion came in looking to add the vacant British title to his growing list of accomplishments. The opening 3 minutes featured a number of heavy exchanges, as both fighters came out with an aggressive mindset. The champion didn't back down from the challenger's aggressive start and his commitment to working the body set the tone early. He hurt McIntosh with a combination to the midsection late in the second - and a follow up barrage sent the underdog to the canvas. Having not fully recovered from the first knockdown, McIntosh was put down again by a right to the chin. With the challenger flat on his back, it looked for a couple moments like the fight might be over very early, but the resilient McIntosh surprised everyone by launching himself to his feet in one swift motion. Still feeling the effects of the final moments of round 2, McIntosh was sent down yet again early in the 3rd round. In a gutsy display, McIntosh managed to get himself back in the fight over the next couple rounds, but was still getting the worst of the exchanges. Down big on the cards, McIntosh kept throwing, and connected with his share of punches. Here he catches the champion with a crunching right hand. Fighting in an aggressive but controlled manner, Cleverly continued to land the cleaner, harder punches. Here he catches McIntosh with a hard right hand to the side of the jaw. Early in round 7, a right hand behind the ear from Cleverly sent McIntosh down for the fourth time in the fight. Upon rising, the game challenger had little left to offer and after a follow-up flurry had him in more trouble, referee John Foster stepped in to end it. Still the Commonwealth champion, and now holder of the Lonsdale belt, Nathan Cleverly now a perfect 17-0 celebrates his empathic win.