Danny brings a Euro title to Leamington

Danny Quartermaine wears the belt he won so emphatically

FOR the first time since the great Randolph Turpin, close to 75 years ago, Leamington Spa has a European champion.

It may not be a major version of the belt. It may not have been a classic encounter, but Danny Quartermaine’s army of fans, whose chants near raised the roof of Coventry’s Skydome on Saturday, didn’t care.

Hurricane Danny, star of Cleary’s gym in the spa town, blew away Alex Rat  for the IBF super-featherweight crown, the Romanian’s corner signalling surrender before the start of the fifth.

Rat had been cut over the right eye early in the battle, but, in truth, had no answer to 26-year-old’s pressure. He drowned in the churning waters of Quartermaine’s unquenchable self belief and iron will to win.

He came with decent credentials, having lost only six of 25 and extended hot prospect Archie Sharp.

Yet on promoters GBM’s first foray in the Midlands, the 31-year-old hardly burned with ambition. He appeared reluctant to engage from the get-go and looked to hold when Quartermaine forged forward.

He made it messy and referee Bob Williams finally lost patience in the fourth, deducting a point from the visitor.

But the marks on Danny’s face showed it wasn’t all one way traffic: the local hero sported an angry welt under his left eye during post-fight interviews.

“I think Danny had another couple of gears,” said trainer Edwin Cleary. Rat’s not a bad lad, but Danny was on another level tonight.”

Danny shows the marks of battle in post fight interview

The bout could not have started worse for Rat. He hit the floor after being clipped in the first – what seemed more of a stumble – and was forced to take a standing count.

That was the cue for the customary Quartermaine rampage. He employed more head movement in the second and speared Rat with stiff jabs. The east European attempted to box at long range, but simply couldn’t keep Danny at bay and, from the second, dabbed at his mouth as if indicating an injury.

It was fast becoming a thoroughly miserable night for Alex.

The third was untidy and Mr Williams spoke sternly to Rat for holding. It was a warning that appeared to fall on deaf ears and the official’s patience snapped in the fourth, a round that saw Quartermaine land a sharp left hook.

Rat’s desire was evidently waning, but his surrender still came as a surprise.

Quartermaine’s barmy army of fans certainly didn’t care. They had come to witness the dawn of a new golden age of boxing in Leamington.

The Warwickshire town had the Turpins, now it has the Hurricane, unbeaten in 11.

And he’s set to whip-up a storm in the super-featherweight division.