JOURNEYMAN Glenroy Beckford of the Yellow Team moved into the next round of the Wray & Nephew Contender Series Two boxing extravaganza 2012 at the Chinese Benevolent Association, Auditorium on Wednesday night following the disqualification of his opponent.

Referee Barrington Graham stopped the contest two minutes 54 second into the fifth round of the six-round bout following his disqualification of rookie fighter Dean Palmer of the Green Team for persistent holding onto his opponent during the rounds.

At intervals during the bout, Graham could be seen separating the fighters on numerous occasions and then indicating to the judges of Palmer’s predisposition to hold onto his opponent, rather than break and fight.

Graham seemed to have reached the end of his tether with Palmer’s continued violation of the rules boxing and seconds away from the fifth round, called the match in favour of Beckford, who at any rate was ahead on points.

It was the seventh win for Beckford against five loses from 12 fights, while Palmer was making his debut in the professional ranks in the welterweight division of 141-147 pounds.

It was the second fight of the night which failed to go the distance. In the first of two preliminary fights before the main event, a lightweight contest between amateur fighters Ricardo Carter of GC Foster Gym and Shaquille Linton of Stanley Couch Gym, the referee stopped the fight in the second round in favour of Carter.

In the second fight — a the lightheavyweight contest — Jonathan Hanson outpointed Everton Eccleston, 59-58.

Meanwhile, while Beckford expressed pleasure at advancing to the next round he was not happy with his display and vowed to go back to the drawing board to do some serious work.

“I’m much better than was seen in the ring awhile ago. This tells me I have to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next fight as we’re going all the way from here on… I have to be in the best shape and… frame of mind…,” Beckford said.

The vanquished Palmer said he was not devastated but “felt upset about losing and in such a manner”.

“I did not think there should have been a disqualification. If an opponent is putting it on you, one of your safest defences is to tie him up in an attempt to stem his flow of punches and give you time to clear your head and plan a counter move.

“I therefore will have to continue training more consistently to better prepare myself for occasions like this in the future,” he said.

The Series is a continuation of last year’s inaugural staging and is produced by MJK Productions and sponsored by J Wray and Nephew, TVJ and Foska Oats.

Sixteen boxers are on show, grouped in two teams, Green and Yellow, and will be vying for substantial prize money.

The winner of the competition will take home $1,000,000, along with the Wray and Nephew Welterweight Contender title, 2012. The runner-up will pocket $500,000, third $250,000 and fourth $200,000. The Series continues next Wednesday at the same venue.