MATT Marsh has been promised a rematch with Jason Booth after a cut forced the Welling boxer out of action in the 11th round of last Friday’s televised meeting between the duo.

Marsh appeared to have the upper hand in the early rounds of a fierce contest.

And although Booth came back strongly, the result was ultimately taken out of Marsh’s hands when referee John Keane was forced to call the closely-fought contest to a halt just six minutes from the end.

Marsh suffered a cut in the fifth round from an accidental clash of heads, but the Welling star was not really troubled by the flow of blood until the ninth and 10th rounds.

Opponent Booth suffered a nasty gash which bled freely in the opener, a sickening clash of heads resulting in the wound opening above the Nottingham veteran’s left eye.

Booth was surprised by Marsh’s movement and found his opponent difficult to target, winning only one of the first five rounds before he slowly worked his way back into the contest.

For the first time in his last three fights, Booth found an opponent who was willing to stand and box as Marsh caused him problems from the first bell.

He caught Booth time and time again and produced by far the more eye catching punches.

The experienced Booth can never be written off and it was only a matter of time before his vast experience began to show through.

He found the target with more frequency and closed the gap before the cut on Marsh's eye began to cause real trouble.

A knockdown in the fifth threatened to play an important role on the scorecards in Marsh’s favour, but the ringside doctor had two separate looks at the cut before calling the contest to a halt.

Sky Sports commentator Jim Watt had Marsh one up going into the 11th, so whoever took the last two rounds would inevitably win the fight and walk away with the coveted Lonsdale belt.

Booth was quick to offer a rematch afterwards.

He said: “Of course I would give him a rematch and I would go to his hometown (London) this time round.

“The heads were coming together but that's part of my style and I never set out to head butt him.

“Fair play to him because he caused me nightmares all night long.”

Marsh was dejected but was only interested in the rematch once his cut heals.

The Welling ace said: “I won't be able to box now for at least six weeks but as soon as I can, I'll be straight back in the gym.

“I’ve got nothing against Jason, he's a gentleman and this is boxing.

“These things happen. I think I could have carried on, but I'll come back and win that British title.”

Marsh is now looking forward to rematch in London for the British and now Commonwealth title as Booth was handed the vacant title from Rendall Munroe, as he fights on the world title stage.