ST JOSEPH’S boxing trainer Tony Borg hailed the improving Mitch Buckland after he picked up a second career stoppage victory at the weekend, writes Michael Pearlman.

The light-welterweight, who is the younger brother of another Newport boxer, Gary Buckland, met fellow unbeaten fighter Ally Black at the weekend in Bournemouth, ending his winning streak in some style with a fourth round stoppage following a suspected broken nose.

Buckland did the damage in the third round and looked “as impressive as he ever has,” according to trainer Borg.

The 22-year old remains unbeaten and is now looking to challenge for domestic titles. He’s expected to return to action on a local show in Risca later this year.

Meanwhile, older brother Gary and stablemate Lee Selby are also waiting to hear about their next challenges.

The Argus can reveal a date has been scheduled – for September – for Selby to make a voluntary defence of his newly won IBF world featherweight title, on a show that will see Buckland appear on the undercard.

However, it is still uncertain if the show will be another big event from London’s O2 Arena, or a homecoming in Cardiff, most likely at the Motorpoint Arena.

Two other Gwent fighters were defeated on the same show in Bournemouth with Newport’s Jerome Samuels and Newbridge’s Darren Pryce both beaten.

In his first fight since another change of trainers’, Samuels was beaten by Michael McKinson.

The son of a former IBO world title challenger, Paul Samuels, Jerome tore his bicep in the second round and was withdrawn by his corner at the end of the third round.

Samuels was appearing for the first time since losing his Welsh Area light-middleweight title against Barrie Jones in March, courtesy of a third round stoppage. He has since dropped down to welterweight and re-linked with Richie Garner, the trainer who had previously guided the 21-year-old to a five fight winning run.

Pryce, also trained by Garner, lost in four rounds to Thomas Kindon after being stopped for an injury of his own.

The 29-year-old, brother of former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce, dislocated his shoulder in the fourth round and couldn’t continue.