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Frank Erne (18-1-0)(13) TKO9(Cuts) Bobby Dobbs (30-2-0)(15)

Seven months ago Bobby Dobbs (left) was World Lightweight Champion and boasted a perfect unbeaten record. He apparently had the beating of all his major rivals and had witnessed the retirement of the great Jimmy Carroll. Things were looking good for the Knoxville born scrapper.

Dobbs then hit the skids. He put up a pair of 'average' performances before Jack McAuliffe ripped the World crown away from him, even against mediocre opposition Dobbs has since struggled.

When connections announced he was to take on once beaten Frank Erne (right) there was a run on the Swiss born fighters odds, the backers were proved correct.

After an intense but even first half of the fight Erne let rip. He had already opened a cut over Dobbs right eye when a right hook form Erne sent Dobbs flying. He got to his feet but was back down immediately when he caught a right cross. Dobbs survived the round but was evidently out of gas as he returned to his stool.

His experience got him through the next six minutes, but Erne then upped the ante in the ninth and had his man in trouble after heavy blows to the body. The end came with less than a minute left in the round when a right hook reopened the cut over the right eye. The referee had seen enough, as had Dobbs local support.