Tom Rafferty headlined Saturday night’s Black Flash Promotions show in Manchester, England, and the middleweight sent his large contingent of fans home happy, stopping Vaidas Balciauskas in four rounds.

Rafferty is always in the gym, but having fought for the fifth time in 11 months, he has also obviously benefitted from the momentum of quickly moving from fight to fight.

The Tommy Gun” has been working on distance, body work and maintaining his shape during inside work with his trainer, Steve Maylett, and the fighter showed improvements in all of those departments against Balciauskas. Rafferty (12-0, 4 KOs) consistently hurt Lithuania’s Balciauskas with his left hook to the body, finally putting him down for the count with a well-timed shot midway through the fourth round.

After a short break, Rafferty will step up to eight rounds, after which he can realistically begin looking toward Area and English titles.

Alex Murphy made his six-round lightweight victory over Elicier Quezada much more exciting than it needed to be, but it made for thrilling viewing. Murphy, now unbeaten in 11 fights, is still searching for his first stoppage but set a hot tempo from the opening bell.

Murphy, 23, gave away all his advantages in height and reach and got involved in exchange after exchange with Nicaragua’s Quezada, who let go with wide hooks whenever he could. The pace never relented, but Murphy was always a step ahead. He had to earn it but ultimately won a 59-55 decision.

Bradford, England, heavyweight Pete Naylor (7-0, 1 KO) got his first stoppage in his seventh fight, enjoying an easy night’s work against Germany’s Vincenzo Anzalone. Naylor has poured his heart into the sport and has improved drastically since turning professional just under two years ago. The massively overweight Anzalone showed absolutely no resistance and was stopped within 43 seconds. Naylor, 38, could next take aim at the Central Area title.

George Killeen (6-0, 1 KO) stayed unbeaten and produced maybe his best performance to date by outboxing Connor Meanwell over four rounds. Killeen, a 20-year-old middleweight, has been training with Pat Barrett at the Collyhurst & Moston Boxing Club since he was a teenager, and is developing into a well-rounded fighter. Killen has an excellent jab – a prerequisite for any fighter from the gym – and is extremely composed in the ring. Killeen, who won every round against Meanwell, is ready for a step up in quality and distance.

Liverpool, England, junior featherweight Charlotte Powell (3-1-1) beat Kira Carter over six rounds in her first fight under Wayne Smith. Powell, who joined the Liverpool Golden Gloves Boxing Club after losing to Vaida Masiokaite last time out, felt her way into the Carter fight, steadily increasing her pressure and variety as the rounds passed, winning 60-54.

Rio Pierre, another Golden Gloves fighter, got a 40-36 four-round win over Ricky Leach at lightweight. Pierre likes to get close, hook to the body and head before rolling away. When it works, the Liverpudlian is good to watch, but he still finds himself being caught at arm’s length too often. Pierre (2-1) is in the very early stages of his career but has provided entertainment every time he has boxed.

Bantamweight Ndaba Ndebele (4-0, 1 KO) got an important four rounds under his belt against Nabil Ahmed. Ndebele has looked good throughout his short career, but Ahmed came to fight, busting the 26-year-old Ndebele’s nose and posing him questions he hasn’t been forced to answer before. Ndebele solved each and earned a 40-37 decision victory.

(Photo – Karen Priestly c/o Karen Priestly Photography)