ARTIF Ali maintained the unbeaten start to his professional career as he won his latest fight in Manchester last Saturday.

The 26-year-old featherweight was matched with a Lithuanian fighter, Aivaras Balsys, who had won just one of his 12 fights.

Ali ultimately made easy work of it to earn a unanimous points decision, improving his record to 6-0.

But it served as another important learning curve for the Accrington fighter as he had to box cleverly having picked up a shoulder problem in the second round.

The fight at Victoria Warehouse was his second six-rounder so also marked another step to competing for a domestic title.

The injury isn’t serious so Ali hopes to fight again on the November 22 bill at the King George’s Hall in Blackburn, where he beat Joe Beedon last month.

Accrington super-middleweight Luke Blackledge won as he topped the bill that night and he’s confirmed he’ll be there again on November 22. Tickets are available now.