Rotherham boxer Sonny Boy Price dusts off gloves for title trail

Now he can embark on his longer-term plan of bringing a title back to the town

Rotherham's Sonny Boy Price swept away almost four years of cobwebs to mark his return to boxing with a win on home ground.

Sonny Boy Price and two of his children after his return to the ring. Pic courtesy of Ryan Marsden, Steel Stream Design. | Ryan Marsden, Steel Stream Design.

placeholder image — Sonny Boy Price and two of his children after his return to the ring. Pic courtesy of Ryan Marsden, Steel Stream Design. | Ryan Marsden, Steel Stream Design.

The Swallownest roofer won every round against seasoned Sheffield opponent Owen Durnan at the Magna Centre.

Now he can embark on his longer-term plan of bringing a title back to the town.

Price, 30, had been out of the sport because of business and family commitments.

The super welterweight appeared lively and light on his feet throughout the six rounds but didn't have it all his own way against a fit and agile journeyman who knows how to tuck up.

Price switched his style in a bid to get through Durnan's defence, but found him strong in the clinches.

The Rotherham man finished strongly behind a stiff jab and was awarded a clean sweep of points, 60-54.

Dave Allen v Thomas Carty, heavyweight, Croke Park, Dublin Picture courtesy of Matchroom Boxing Mark Robinson | Mark Robinson/Matchroom

That moved him to a record of 11-0-0.

He posted later: "Straight back in with six rounder with a tough big opponent; it’s been a hard road for me.

"I've lived in my own head the last 14 months, fighting demons last night was easier than fighting myself."

Sonny was joined in an in-ring celebration by two of this three children after the victory.

And his display was commended by two-time British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion and former European super-middleweight title holder Callum Simpson and central area champion Red Johnson.

Also on the bill, Dinnington's Falcon Fight Academy boxer Charlie Ellis, recorded his third professional win by outpointing Naeem Ali from Blackburn, 40-36.

The Daz Medcalf-trained welterweight only joined the paid ranks in April, and will have his fourth fight of the year in November, his first six rounder at the Magna.

On the international scene, Dearne Valley heavyweight Dave Allen was involved in a crazy no-contest result against Irish opponent Thomas Carty at Dublin's historic Croke Park.

With 80,000-plus glued to the chief-support on the Katie Taylor v Flora Pili bill, Allen punched the back of Carty's head and the home fighter fell under the top rope, landing on the floor in an area reserved for photographers.

Chaos ensued before a doctor ruled Carty was in no fit state to continue.

The Conisbrough veteran was as shocked as anyone in Croke Park.

But within an hour or two was pragmatic, saying: "Life’s too short for arguing and back and forth, Thomas is a good man what’s gone has gone."

Allen, 34, is likely to retire after his next fight.

It will have been a long and interesting career - but nothing will come close to his crazy Irish encounter.