By Shaun Brown

Carshalton, England - Spain’s Ruben Nieto (17-1, 8 KOs) is the new European light welterweight champion after a controversial and slightly bizarre ending to his fight with local favourite Lenny Daws (30-4-2, 11 KOs) tonight.

In front of a raucous crowd at the Westcroft Leisure Centre, a crowd that had to be calmed down by World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury pre-fight after violence kicked off in the arena, Daws and Nieto fought out nine rounds of wild, scrappy and enthralling action with both men bloody and engaged in a see-saw tussle.

However, during the tenth round, after a clash of heads, Nieto was sent to the ringside Doctor to have the cut over his left eye looked at. It appeared that the Doctor decided the Spaniard was in no position to continue. Referee Freddy Rafn, after consulting with the physician then walked over to Daws and disqualified him for an intentional head-butt.

Speaking afterwards, Daws said:  “We’ve clashed heads. Doctor’s said he [Nieto] can’t continue and then the ref decided to disqualify me. Funny decision. It wasn’t intentional. The ref said I did it intentionally.

“We weren’t too sure if we got it. Our team was jumping up and down, their team was jumping up and down. He was coming forward that’s why the heads were coming together.”

Daws’ promoter Mick Hennessy was incensed by the decision: “We have to put an immediate appeal in. That’s disgraceful. That referee is so incompetent, he’s useless. All night long, like Lenny said, he [Nieto] hit Lenny with some heavy low blows. Lenny couldn’t contain it and [Rafn] give him a standing eight count. The Doctor stopped the fight and then the dopey referee says you’re disqualified. 

“The referee through his incompetence has ruined a fight of the year candidate. He needs to be struck off. He should not be representing the EBU under any circumstance.”

It was revealed that Daws was ahead on two of the three scorecards. This despite Daws being down in the third round when the bull-like Nieto, who battled forward to great effect all through the fight, landed a right hand that put the man from Carshalton down for the count.

Daws best success was coming from range and particularly in the sixth where he dominated Nieto with his boxing ability from distance. It was a template, I imagine, that Daws and his team would have hoped to have used from the opening bell.

In the seventh round Nieto landed what looked like a low blow on Daws who, in turn, walked away complaining of the shot. Referee Rafn deemed this as the Brit not being interested in boxing and therefore gave him a standing eight count. Ironically Nieto was deducted a point later on in the round for another shot below the waist line.

Mick Hennessy will now lodge an appeal with the EBU in a hope to overturn the result or, more likely, get a rematch. 

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene's UK Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com