Big Sexy brought the distance on Belfast Boxnation bill

Big Sexy Sean Turner was faced with the biggest test of his career tonight in Belfast and passed with little fuss.

The Dubliner faced tough Croatian veteran Ivica Perkovic at the Titanic Exhibition Centre on the Boxnation ‘Homecoming’ show and boxed his way to a comfortable win against the larger man.

Turner began with the jab, not committing too much and perhaps wary of his heightened level of opposition. During the round he did land two notable overhand shots but was quickly tied up by the crafty Croat.

His feeling-out operation complete, Turner ratcheted up the aggression in the second and twice buzzed Perkovic who was beginning to breathe heavily.

Turner controlled the third, but was finding hard to get inside the long grabbing arms of the Balkan boxer whose level of holding was on the increase.

The Dubliner enjoyed his most successful round of the bout in the fourth, beginning to land more freely and mixing in some nice body work.

Entering the fifth round for the first time in his pro career, Turner continued to come on strong and momentarily wobbled Perkovic toward the end of the stanza.

Big Sexy went looking for the knockout in the final round, letting his hands go at will but just couldn’t find that perfect shot against the slippery journeyman.

Going to the scorecards for just the third time in his pro career, the result was in no doubt and Turner was awarded the bout on a 60:54 scoreline.

The win sees Turner move to 9(6)-0, while the game Perkovic drops to 22(17)-32(13).

25 year old Turner now hopes to get out once more before Christmas and is aiming for a step up to eight rounds and title eligibility ahead of title fights in 2017.