Scott Harrison emerged triumphant from a 'battle of Britain' this Friday night as he retained his WBO Featherweight title via a fourth round knockout of the ever brave Michael Brodie in the challenger's backyard at the MEN Arena, Manchester.

This was Brodie's fourth attempt at a 'world' title as he gunned for Scott Harrison's WBO Featherweight tile and seemingly his last chance, but it wasn't to be as again his challenge ended in heartbreak.

Brodie announced his retirement after the fight.

Anyone doubting how much Michael Brodie had left in him after a professional career spanning 11 years and 3 failed WBC world title attempts, including 2 back to back wars with Korean hard man In Jin Chi, got there answer, as the Salford fighter gave Scott Harrison all the trouble he could handle until a thumping body shot in round four abruptly ended the challenge of the Manchester fighter.

Harrison got straight down to business from the off as he instantly bullied Brodie around the ring, using his physical advantages to back his slicker opponent up to crash in those hard looking shots of his. The fears before the bout of Brodie being a shot fighter had the look of coming true, as with only a minute gone in the opening round Michael was already shipping full blooded shots from the Scotsman, and when the challenger looked to throw a lead left hook but was countered with a beautifully timed left-right combination, Brodie was rocked massively back onto his heels.

Senses scrambled, the pair traded briefly before the 31-year-old found himself on the ropes and looking all but finished as the marauding Harrison unloaded with a barrage of straight left and rights, but Brodie had enough wits about him to roll under and avoid enough shots to get him out of trouble and amazingly come blasting back himself.

A few good hooks from the challenger got through but more thudding shots from Harrison landed bang on the target in the exchange to have you wondering how Brodie stayed upright, let alone get through the first round. The action even continued after the bell, as Brodie threw a late right hook to the body only to be hit with a right hand in reply before the pair was separated.
You could see the needle between the two.

Round two saw both men go right back at it from the bell, and both also looked to be landing with every shot they threw as Harrison seemed happy to stand and trade as he rightly considered himself the stronger of the two. Even after shipping countless heavy shots, Brodie's accuracy increased as the round went on and a left hook in particular slammed onto Harrison's jaw, however the Scotsman took the hard punches with seemingly no effect. In the final stages of the round Brodie even began pushing the champion back, a far cry from round one when it looked to be curtains for the home fighter.

The third round started unusually cagey as both fighters looked to gain the advantage by outmanoeuvring one another, but cagey lasted all of 30 seconds as Brodie found the target with his favoured left hook to the body triggering off a lovely 3 punch combination. More success from Brodie followed as an arcing right hook around the guard of the Scottish champion connecting bang on the chin midway through the round.

Much the same as round two, Brodie was getting better as the round goes on, and by the time round three had ended, the Manchester native had established his sharp jab and was also having success with his wicked hooks to the body. What a turn around, and what a great fight but a bad sign right on the bell for Michael Brodie as a body shot landed by the champion caused the challenger to wince when going back to his corner. Just how much damage that shot had done was evident soon after.

The fourth round saw Harrison go straight for the body and after connecting with a few half blocked shots, the champion pulled out a sickening left hook to the body with 46 seconds gone in the round that had Brodie on the canvas gasping for air. The 31-year-old looked in a bad way as he struggled to get up and only began to get to his feet at nine as he received the full count of ten from referee Micky Vann.

The punch took everything out of the brave challenger.