Hartlepool’s Peter Cope loses Northern Area championship to Middlesbrough’s John Green

Cope had outpointed the Boro fighter in their original meeting in South Shields last October.

But Green gained revenge at the Stadium of Light with a deserved victory, referee Andrew Wright scoring it 98-94 to the Teessider.

Cope had accused his rival of negative tactics in the first meeting and Green promised a more positive display this time.

He delivered that with a sharp start, taking the opening two rounds and while Cope fought back in rounds three and four, Green re-asserted his authority in the fifth.

Cope hit back in the sixth and was markedly better in the second half of the contest, but never got on top of his rival.

This reporter had Green 97-95 in front on his scorecard but the only scorecard that mattered was that of Mr Wright, who marked it 98-94.