GAVIN Gwynne can now start preparing for a British lightweight title final eliminator later this year after outpointing Nicaraguan Arnoldo Solano in a bad-tempered clash on Saturday night.

St Joseph’s ace Gwynne (11-0) kept his perfect pro record intact at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre, but was docked two points and lost his cool with a spoiling Solano several times on the hottest day of the year.

Having missed out on a Celtic title fight in March through injury, it was understandable there would be some frustration to vent when Gwynne took to the ring for the first time in eight months.

But on top of that, the 29-year-old clearly wasn’t impressed by what he viewed as Solano’s negative tactics, at one point going to his own corner and gesturing animatedly for his opponent to engage.

In between more or less every round, trainer Tony Borg and the rest of Gwynne’s team were pleading with their man to keep his calm and box as normal.

Gwynne sent Solano to the canvas in rounds four and eight, while referee Reece Carter deducted the former a point in the sixth when he raised his foot to the Nicaraguan who had stumbled to the floor, and in the eighth for punching after the call of break.

Solano also had a point taken off in round eight following the last of three low blows.

The 78-71 scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story of an action-packed eight-round contest, one that Gwynne can learn a lot from.

He knows that if he lets frustration get the better of him again in the anticipated eliminator against Irishman James Tennyson, which has gone out for purse bids, then his dream of winning the Lonsdale Belt will be over.

Gwynne’s St Joes stablemate Lloyd Germain, below, began life in the paid ranks by outpointing tough Yorkshireman Danny Little over four rounds at super-welterweight.

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Referee Carter scored the bout 39-37 in Germain’s favour to give the Cardiff father-of-two the ideal start to his professional career.

Little went into the fight with 57 defeats and only eight wins to his name, but he was by no means a pushover, something the Welshman knew very well before the first bell.

A promising opening round for Germain gave his supporters and trainer Borg plenty to smile about.

Working behind a strong jab to begin with, Germain was on the front foot throughout as Little offered very little in reply.

But Germain certainly didn’t have it all his own way for the remainder of the fight, the right hand of Little causing problems from the second onwards.

A slight drop off in tempo was giving Borg cause for concern, but Germain picked up again in the last round and got the job done.

Robbie Vernon, another St Joes fighter, made it three wins from three and enjoyed the second stoppage of his fledgling pro career.

After numerous changes of opponents in the build-up to the bout, the Bridgend super-lightweight was eventually paired with Kent debutant Daniel Alder.

The first round only sparked to life in the closing 30 seconds when Vernon pinned Alder in the neutral corner, although the Englishman gave as good as he got in the rapid exchange that followed.

Alder also landed the most eye-catching combination of round two, with a big left preceding a powerful right that gave Vernon plenty to think about.

However, when Vernon replied in kind in the third, Alder had no response, hitting the canvas after taking a crunching right hand.

Alder beat the count, but referee Carter rightly ruled he was in no position to continue.

Like Vernon, Risca’s Jake Tinklin was also bidding to make it three wins in succession.

Facing journeyman Fonz Alexander at welterweight, Tinklin took all six rounds to prevail 60-54 on referee Martin Williams’ scorecard.

Alexander doesn’t get stopped very often and he took everything Tinklin threw at him, while giving some of his own back too.

Trainer Gavin Rees was imploring Tinklin to seize the initiative, only to be met by a slightly cautious approach from the 21-year-old.

Meanwhile, there were also victories for Welshmen Kristian Touze, Angelo Dragone and Jake Anthony.