Iranian Salari was on the wrong end of a 59-54 decision in a six-round bout with Duffield light-heavyweight Matthew Hainy at Derby University.

Meanwhile, back in Sheffield, Simeon Cover was beaten by Sheffield light-heavyweight fighter John Ibbotson at Don Valley Stadium.

Salari, trained at Brendan Ingle's Wincobank gym, was unable to make a weight advantage count against an opponent with less experience and was put down early in the second round by a heavy right hook from Hainy.

The third round was a more positive affair for the Iranian but he was unable to gain a significant advantage in the eyes of Telford referee Nigel Gill who scored it 59-54 in favour of the Duffield man.

Cover was out-pointed 58-56 by Ibbotson in a bruising six-round affair.

Referee Howard Foster from Doncaster was impressed by Ibbotson's speed and apparent greater urgency from the start of the bout, although Cover's positive attitude won him the praises of the appreciative audience.

l HARWORTH light-heavyweight soldier Joe Elfidh handed Manchester's Abdul Rashid a crushing points defeat on Saturday in Derby.

Elfidh, who is yet to taste defeat in the ring, looked comfortable throughout the fight and controlled the action from start to finish.