SAHIR Iqbal shone on a big night of boxing at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

Bolton’s rising star made it six wins out of six as a professional with a points victory over durable veteran Kevin McCauley on Friday evening.

The 23-year-old’s only frustration was that he couldn’t force a second knockout victory of his career as McCauley survived to see the full four rounds.

By and large though the talented welterweight was pleased with his first outing under new new trainer Johnney Roye, who has stepped in following the death of previous cornerman Oliver Harrison.

“I was pleased with how it went,” Iqbal said post-fight.

“My opponent was good at sticking in there but I thought I hurt him a few times, especially towards the later rounds.

The Bolton News:

“If that was a six rounder I definitely think I would have taken him out.

“He wouldn’t have stayed there for two more rounds with the punches I was landing. It’s all good experience for me and it was a brilliant atmosphere too.

“My crowd always show up big, especially in Bolton, and I want to thank them all. 

“This was the first fight with my new coach Johnney and each time I’m progressing and getting better in the gym and I want to push up the rankings.

“Now it’s onwards and upwards to the next one.”

A packed night of MTK Global action that featured both amateur and professional fights also included a victory for Bolton-based Irishman Liam Gaynor.

The 21-year-old lightweight is now unbeaten in four contests as he continues the early stages of his career under Alex Matvienko at Elite Boxing.

The Bolton News: Liam Gaynor in action at the Whites HotelLiam Gaynor in action at the Whites Hotel

Gaynor proved too good for Taka Bembere, winning all four rounds on referee Jamie Kirkpatrick’s card.

The prospect isn’t hanging around and will be back in action on the Black Flash Promotions show at the Oldham Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 26.

Elsewhere on the card, Chorley’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lisa Whiteside continued the perfect start to her professional career, dominating on her way to an impressive win against Evgeniya Zablotskaya.

Whiteside made it a hat-trick of victories with a second round knockout, the 33-year-old working towards and eventual bout with former amateur rival and two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams, the Leeds fighter now a professional world champion.

Barrow’s Mike McGoldrick and Doncaster pair Ryan Stevenson and Josh Padley were also victorious on the card.

All the action can be watched back on YouTube channel iFL TV.