Sean Hemphill arrived in England as a bit part player in the ongoing soap opera between Callum Simpson and Mark Jeffers but the American destroyed any hopes of an all British super middleweight battle by fighting his way to a terrific ten round majority decision upset of the previously undefeated Jeffers.

Over the past 18 months, Jeffers (20-1, 7 KOs) has accepted tough, high profile fights with former European champion, Kevin Lele Sadjo, and world ranked Cuban, Osleys Iglesias, but has seen both opportunities fall through.

Desperate to stay busy and force himself into position for a big fight, the no-nonsense 27 year-old from Chorley leapt at the chance to take on New Orleanian, Hemphill (19-2, 11 KOs).

Last May, Hemphill (166lbs) lost an eight round decision to former IBF title holder, William Scull, and despite the chilly Yorkshire evening, the 29 year-old Louisianan seemed comfortable in his first fight outside America. He moved and boxed but although he was landing shots as Jeffers (166lbs) closed the distance, he was being made to work harder than he would have liked at such an early stage in the fight.

Calmly, Jeffers kept his gloves tight and made sure to constantly stay in punching range. He came close with a lead right uppercut in the third and Hemphill’s movement slowed but was still forced to take a couple of well picked counter shots from the composed Hemphill.

Jeffers finally got the exchange he wanted in the fourth but got the worst of it. A right hand high on the head seemed to hurt him and Hemphill followed with a series of hard shots. If he was troubled, Jeffers hid it well and tried to throw his own hard shots backhand the two exchanged to the bell.

The fifth was an outstanding round of inside fighting. Jeffers tucked his chin to his chest, pressed forward and made it his kind of fight. Buoyed by his success, Hemphill obliged and stood with him.

Every thumping Jeffers shot was met with a quick, clean combination punching from the relaxed Hemphill who seemed to have grown accustomed to the Englishman’s power.

By round eight, both fighters had dug in and were refusing to give ground. Time and again, they held their feet and traded big shots, Jeffers would get the better of one exchange whilst Hemphill came out on top of the next.

Earlier this week, Jeffers told The Ring that he relishes the mental battle of tough, physical challenges and realising that Hemphill wasn’t moving, he forced himself forward. That workrate may have earned him the ninth but Hemphill responded brilliantly in the tenth, catching Jeffers with a series of clean shots and hurting him in the final minute.

Nobody at ringside was sure who had won and the judges were also split.

Salvador Salva scored the fight even at 95-95 but was overruled by Michel Maksiuta - 97-93 - and Hoard Foster - 96-94 - who both cored in favour of Hemphill.

At featherweight, Rhys Edwards (17-1, 4 KOs) ground out an eight round victory over Thomas Essomba (14-10-1, 4 KOs) but the 25 year-old Welshman will still be disappointed with his performance.

Last December, Edwards stepped in on just a few days notice to box the highly rated Peter McGrail in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Edwards may have lost a tight decision and his unbeaten record but his performance gained him plenty of respect.

This time, Edwards (125lbs) was the one having to deal with a late change of opponent. Former European bantamweight champion, Essomba, stepped in when Edwards’ original opponent, Lyon Woodstock, withdrew.

Essomba (124lbs) is wily and experienced but he is also 37 years old and was the much smaller man. He wisely presented a small target, waited for Edwards to lead and countered nicely with his southpaw left hand.

As Edwards struggled mightily to get his feet in to range and continuously fell short with his punches, Essomba’s team - which includes his manager, former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards - began to grow in ambition.

Edwards continued to apply pressure but - apart from a spell of success at the end of round seven - almost constantly found himself in no-mans land and although Essomba’s output gradually slowed, he still picked some eye catching shots.

Although the fight felt close, scoring referee, Darren Sarginson, clearly preferred Edwards’ pressure and scored the fight 79-74 in favour of Edwards.

Scottish middleweight Sam Hickey (3-0, 1 KO) remained unbeaten by easily outpointing Harley Hodgetts (4-2) over six rounds.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist likes to go about his business in a calm controlled manner. He patiently stalked Hodgetts (159lbs) from the opening bell, making sure to land every time the Portsmouth man’s back touched the ropes.

Unable to match Hickey for talent, Hodgetts presented a constantly moving target and tried to negate Hickey (160lbs) when they came close. The approach took away any chance he had of springing a major upset but it at least kept him safe.

Hickey dominated the action but struggled to find any hurtful shots as Hodgetts refused to buy any feints or take any unnecessary risks.

The result was a formality, Hickey winning every round and taking a 60-54 decision.

Promising Leeds lightweight, Ellis Price (3-0, 2 KO), rounded out the untelevised undercard and impressed a growing crowd by stopping Jake Price (1-4-1) in the fifth of six rounds.

The Yorkshireman’s shorter punches immediately made an impression on his tall, gangly opponent who was punished for pawing with his jab and cut over the right eye.

Price is a talented fighter who fights well in the pocket but allowed the action to get messy a times. He finally broke through in the fifth and a sustained burst of punches forced referee, Michael Alexander, to stop the fight at 1.26 of the round.

Liverpool’s Frankie Stringer (10-0, 1 KO) notched up a career best win but the 24 year-old lightweight was made to work hard for his eight round win over Birmingham’s Kane Baker (19-13-2, 1 KO).

Baker (136lbs) usually tries to make the running but found Stringer (136lbs) too quick and accurate and the Liverpudlian found the mark straight away, scoring regularly with his right hand.

Stringer started the second just as strongly and pushed Baker to the ropes but had his legs dipped badly by a hard counter right hand. The success fired up Baker and he begun to fight with his usual aggression but Stringer ended the round with a hard left hook that forced Baker to retreat.

Stringer’s right hand got him back on top in the third and although Baker refused to go into his shell, he began to come off second best in exchanges.

Stringer deserved the 79-74 decision he was awarded but had to earn his success and finished marked up around his right eye.

Mauro Silva (9-0, 4 KOs) coasted to a one sided stoppage victory over Panama’s Omir Rodriguez (15-28-1, 6 KOs).

The confident 22 year-old middleweight from Manchester believes he is made for the big occasion and jumped on Rodriguez (158lbs) from the start, torturing him with an accurate jab and punishing him to the body.

Rodriguez offered precious little in terms of offence and although Silva (161lbs) never made a significant breakthrough, he continued to pound away until the Panamanian’s corner tossed in the towel and retired their man after 1.06 of the fourth round.

Red Johnson (9-0, 1 KO) made the short trip from Sheffield and opened the show with a six round decision over Harley Collison (3-3-2) at super middleweight.

32 year-old Collison (168lbs) gave highly ranked Caoimhin Agyarko a solid workout earlier this year but although he enjoyed flashes of success against the colourful Johnson (167lbs), he found himself countered regularly by the 28 year old’s left hand.

Johnson rubber stamped the win by dropping a bloodied Collison in the sixth and final round with one of those looping lefts. The score was 59-54.