BELFAST boxer Neil Sinclair sensationally crashed to defeat at the Ulster Hall last night. The 22-year-old former international welterweight and ex-Commonwealth Games champion failed to live up to expectations in his first major professional examination.

After eight contests Sinclair attempted to move into the British top 10 ratings but was out-pointed by Denis Berry from Derby. Berry exposed Sinclair's inadequate defence, repeatedly landing right hand shots and in the sixth and final round, floored Sinclair with a right to the chin.

Sinclair rose at the count of eight but went down to a 58-57, points verdict from Belfast referee Barney Wilson. At ringside was former Olympic games welterweight silver medallist Freddie Teidt of Dublin, who said: "He (Sinclair) will have to work on improving his defence. I cannot understand why Neil left his left arm so low. He took too many rights."

Teidt later refereed a bruising top-of-the-bill cruiserweight match between Darren Corbett (Belfast) and Chris Woolas (Doncaster). The Boxing Union of Ireland officials had earlier changed their minds and refused to ratify the 10-rounder for the vacant Irish championship. However, the bout went ahead with 24-year-old Corbett knocking out Woolas after two minutes and two seconds of the seventh round, flooring his opponent with a ferocious right hook to the body.