Neil Linford's bid to snatch the WBU light-heavyweight belt from former stablemate Tony Oakey ended in disappointment on Saturday night in Portsmouth.

The Hove fighter was beaten on a unanimous points decision as the three ringside judges agreed on a 116-110 verdict in Oakey's favour.

It was the Portsmouth fighter's third successful defence of his title and stretched his record to 18 wins from 18 outings to the delight of his raucous home support at a sold-out Mountbatten Centre.

Oakey, fired up by the recent split with long-time trainer Ronnie Davies who was in Linford's corner, never looked in trouble over the 12 rounds and the margin of victory did not raise many complaints.

However, the nature of the defeat may have opened another door for Linford, 25, as his manager Kevin Sanders explained.

Sanders said: "On the evidence of that performance we have just been offered a crack at the vacant WBU cruiserweight championship of the world.

"We won't make a decision until the whole team is sat down together but it will be made in the next few days. If everyone is happy with the decision, then we shall start work again.

"On that performance, Neil has got a lot to offer."

Davies said: "I have always said Linford could make a cruiserweight as he is a very big boy. But it has to be done properly. If it is, that could be his weight. It depends on who the opponent will be as well."

Oakey prides himself on his fitness and determination and that was again evident against Linford as he pressured the challenger from the first bell, scoring well with some heavy overhand rights after coming in behind a left jab which was in his opponent's face all night.

Linford never looked in danger of going down and countered with some good combinations of his own both to Oakey's head and also his body.

Heads clashed on more than one occasion forcing referee Dave Parris to deduct Oakey a point early in the seventh round.

Linford did have his former sparring partner down in the ninth round but it appeared more to do with a slip than Linford's left hook although Oakey was given a standing count nevertheless.

That setback only seemed to inspire Oakey and he finished the round strongly.

By the 12th, Davies was telling Linford only a knockout would give him the belt but it never looked likely as Oakey grinned and winked at his corner, and former trainer Davies in the other.

Linford said: "I thought Oakey outworked me. I tried my heart out and I have trained the hardest I have ever trained. I gave it my best shot.

"People say boxing is tough. It's impossible. He was in my face all night long. Ronnie was saying you've got to stop him, you've got to stop him but it was just not coming."

Davies said: "Oakey is very hard to beat. It is easy to say just box, box, box him but Oakey is so hard to keep out. He is very useful and that's why he is world champion."

Oakey said: "I am over the moon. I may have been showing off a little bit but that was only to get one over on Ronnie.

"Apart from that, Neil is a very hard man and he came to win. I have got respect for him.

"I was never really in any trouble. He came to win and has a tremendous left hook but I am still champion."