Former champ Cardle wins on return
Cardle was dominant throughout, but could not put his durable rival away.
The game Connelly took everything that Cardle could throw at him in the six rounder.
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Hide AdIt looked as though Cardle had done enough to take every round, but referee Darren Sarginson saw it differently and scored it 59-56.
Cardle was a clear winner, though he did get careless once or twice, leaving himself open to three or four left hooks as his rival tried to fight back.
However, in the main Cardle was always well in control.
He now wants to fight the winner of the British title fight on the same bill with champion Robbie Barrett taking on Lewis Ritson.
It was Barrett who took away Cardle's title in Glasgow in May and the fight with Ritson the first defence