Nadeem Siddique had one small regret after his latest pro success - that his opponent was still standing.

Siddique had promised a knock-out finish in his second bill-topping Bradford show yesterday. He couldn't quite deliver, although his legion of fans did not go home disappointed.

Another full house at the Hanover International - which included Junior Witter and former Muhammad Ali foe Earnie Shavers - roared the Golden Boy home against Yemeni lightweight Norman Dhalie.

Siddique, who could have pulled out after injuring his left hand in training, said: "I didn't watch a video of him so I had absolutely no idea what he'd be like.

"I've been working on certain shots in the gym but I always seem to get the awkward opponents. Every time I threw a punch he was so far back.

"But he's had 40 fights and this is only my second one. I'm learning and it's all valuable experience.

"I was hitting a bit harder than last time and I've no complaints. The fans were here again, I won again and I did the business."

After his 100mph debut in November, it was a more thoughtful Siddique for the first of the four three-minute rounds.

Having sized up the Birmingham-based Dhalie, Siddique began to land some big shots to the head which dampened the smirk on his taunting rival.

By the third and switch-hitting constantly, Siddique was chasing the stoppage and crashed a superb left upper-cut against Dhalie's chin. But his opponent kept it scrappy and managed to hang on.

Dhalie was rocked again by a big right in the final skirmishes but with both fighters tiring, Siddique had to settle for a 40-37 victory on points.

Donovan Smillie was another home-town winner in an exhausting six-rounder

with Rob Burton from Barnsley.

The Central Area welterweight champion stepped up to light-middle but did not have the power to stay with Smillie, who claimed his ninth win in 13 attempts.

At times it was a close call but Smillie finished the stronger, pinning Burton to the ropes in a storming final minute.

Smillie said: "It was awkward because he was southpaw and came in as a late opponent after I'd been training for an orthodox fighter. I got lazy for a bit but when I found my range I stepped it up again and the punches were getting through."

One-time British welterweight champion Chris Saunders was slightly fortunate to get the decision in the closest of the four contests against Richard Swallow. But there was no doubts about Dewsbury lightweight Mally McIver's easy points win over Jason Nesbitt.