BoxRec

The highly likeable and very durable Anthony Hanna of Birmingham competed in his 100th pro contest, last night at the St Andrews Sporting Club in Glasgow.

Before a full house of knowledgeable members, he took to the ring for the main event, competing against local favourite and current Scottish Featherweight Champion Furhan Rafiq, for the vacant British Masters Featherweight Championship.

Despite the home bias, Anthony got a rapturous welcome when MC Craig Stephen announced that he was “competing in his landmark 100th contest”.

It was a good contest from the bell, both boxers giving a good showing, Rafiq always looking slightly ahead when, halfway through the final round, Hanna rips up the script and sends Rafiq right across the ring and onto the floor. He gets up, looks a little shaky, but the ref waves the bout on. Second later Hanna is all over him and ref Paul Graham has no option but to step in.

The new British Masters Featherweight Champion, on his 100th outing, Anthony Hanna.

In the ring after the contest Birmingham promoter PJ Rowson presented him with a certificate from the Midlands Area Council of the BBBoC and Tommy Gilmour presented him with a silver salver from the St Andrews Sporting Club commemorating his achievement

Delighted for Anthony, thought he might have packed it in when he got stopped against Ricky Owen last summer (only the seconde time he'd been stopped) so delighted to see him bounce back with this. Would be a nice note to go out on if he chooses to retire. ONe of the rare breed of journeymen who doesn't just turn up for the payday.

Bloody brilliant, Span is a credit to the sport and a proper nice bloke, I couldn't be more pleased for him.
This is a man who has been Midlands champ at flyweight and he also lost creditably on points v Damien Kelly for the Brit and Commonwealth titles at the same weight.
Also in one hundred fights he has only been dropped twice and stopped twice.
Darren Fifield stopped him(very prematurely) in an early contest, Paul Ingle handed him a flash knockdown on route to a points win.
Then in his 99th contest he has supposed to take part in a 4 round contest, only to tell him at the end of the 4th that it was a six rounder. In this fight Ricky Owen dropped and stopped him, which goes to show what a prospect the Welshman is.
Span has gone the distance with Jason Booth, Paul Weir, Keith Knox, Jesper Jenson, Paul Ingle, Damien Kelly, Mickey Cantwell, Willie Limond, Marc Callaghan, Mickey Honter, Alex Moon, Martin Power, Noel Wilders. Ady Lewis, Ian Napa. Dimitri Kirilov, Mzukisi Sikali, Silence Mabuza, Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym, Rendall Muroe, John Murray to name just a few.
Nicky Booth probably stands out as his best win.
I also had the pleasure of him being in my corner in Glasgow when I fought Scott Dixon

Good for Hanna . Seems to be have been around forever. Nice to see him get some rewards for all his years in the sport.