James 'JJ' Metcalf set his sights on a world title showdown with Dennis Hogan after he retained his WBA Continental super-welterweight title against Courtney Pennington on Saturday night.
Metcalf secured the biggest win of his career to date last time out with a unanimous decision victory over Kerman Lejarraga, in Bilbao, Spain, back in May. That win for 'Kid Shamrock', who is the son of former WBU light-welterweight champion Shea Neary, came after he had been beaten by Ted Cheeseman and Kieron Conway.
Pennington was viewed ahead of the bout as a serious test for Metcalf, but the 34-year-old looked levels above the New Yorker, with the fight eventually being waved off after six rounds. Metcalf dominated from the opening bell and had Pennington under sustained attack in the fourth before the Scouser piled on the pressure in the fifth.
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