Twelve tense rounds at Planet Ice in Altrincham ended in a majority draw, keeping Jack Rafferty’s British and Commonwealth junior-welterweight titles in Manchester and setting the table for an immediate rematch with Mark Chamberlain. The cards read 115–114 for Chamberlain and 114–114 twice - enough for Rafferty, 29, to retain in the 27th fight of his career, and the first he hasn’t won.
The rhythm swung back and forth. Chamberlain, up from lightweight, built a promising lead before cuts around both eyes bled into the story. Rafferty pressed harder down the stretch, producing a big 11th that helped haul him level by the finish.
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“Definitely not the fashion I wanted [to keep my titles]… I thought I’d done enough,” Rafferty told DAZN, before laying it out the way fans felt it: “It’s 0–0. There’s gotta be a champion. It’s gotta be done again.” He praised Chamberlain’s toughness but insisted the pressure and cleaner work were his in the late going.
Chamberlain, 26, coming off a September loss in his first outing at 140 lbs, matched the energy. “I know I gave Jack probably his hardest fight to date… You heard him say it—he wants a rematch, I want a rematch, so let’s get it on.” He thanked Frank Warren and Queensberry, even floating a Saudi staging - “Turki, if you’re watching” - which Rafferty echoed: “It’s gotta be take two. Let’s get some warm weather in Saudi at Christmas time.”
Image Credit: The Ring