Veteran Bradford boxers both win on home soil as one retires

He was fighting at the Cedar Court Hotel just off Rooley Lane in BD5, taking on Karl Sampson in a lightweight bout.

And after three defeats in a row to top-class boxers in Josh Padley, Cori Gibbs and Lewis Sylvester, the latter a battle for the English lightweight title back in October, he found life much easier against Sampson.

First (14-3) went into the bout as heavy favourite, with Sampson (6-28-1) having only won once in his previous 16 fights.

And it was a comfortable win for Brighouse resident First, who won all four rounds on the scorecards to claim one final win on points.

For a man who only began boxing as a career in his mid-30s, First can now retire with pride after winning 15 of his 18 professional fights.

Dan Garber is another late bloomer from Bradford, but the 38-year-old still sees plenty of prestige and money ahead of him.

He had given a fine account of himself last time out in Dublin, fighting on the hugely-anticipated Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron undercard in November.

He took on Thomas Carty back then, but held his own against the home favourite, before unluckily losing by technical knockout in the final minute of the bout.

Dan Garber (right) put up a good fight against Thomas Carty but lost at the last, so Saturday night was a much more pleasant experience in the ring for him. (Image: PA.)

A magnanimous Garber admitted to the T&A afterwards that he knew he had been beaten by a superior opponent, but the Bradfordian knew he was under pressure to beat Joe Nakavulevu (1-6-1) on Saturday.

That bout was on the same card as First’s at Cedar Court, and it proved to be an emphatic win for Garber.

He impressively beat Nakvaulevu by knockout, taking him down with a powerful shot to the body early in the second round.

Garber (6-2) will know be looking for some higher-profile, marquee bouts outside of Bradford, and did himself plenty of favours with his performance on Saturday night.