COLIN Kenna had his back against the wall on Friday night, but showed true Irish fighting heart to ensure his trunks kept well clear of the canvas.

Indeed, given that the Southampton heavyweight decisively lost the opening two rounds, his comeback to punch out a six-round draw with Preston's Paul Buttery in his opponent's own backyard was nothing short of inspired.

Up until his encounter with Buttery, Kenna had had it all his own way in his professional career.

Six clear-cut victories, passionate home support and a couple of sensational knockouts, could have made boxing seem like an easy way to make money.

But Kenna always knew that wasn't true and Friday night emphatically proved the point.

Buttery, a 17-stone hulk with a body-builder's physique and a neck to make a polar bear jealous, was always going to represent a stern test, particularly in front of a home crowd at Preston's Guildhall.

The 25-year-old Lancashire fighter had only lost one professional contest - his first - and is rated as one of the hottest heavyweight prospects in British boxing thanks to fearsome punching power.

Kenna is a year older at 26 and boasted a perfect record going into the fight.

But if the Lordshill boxer has been an irresistible force as a professional, then Buttery was the immovable object.

And so it proved in the opening two rounds as he used his strength and physical advantages to push Kenna on to the back foot with some crunching blows to head and body.

But despite being rocked, the Hampshire man never stopped throwing punches and somehow managed to turn the tide in the third with a blistering range of combinations.

As the fight wore on Buttery began to slow, and while he continued to control the centre of the ring and show more strength on the inside, Kenna threw the greater quantity and variety of punches.

This pattern continued throughout the fight, although the Southampton boxer was rarely able to hurt his much bigger opponent, even with an awesome final toe-to-toe flurry to end what was undoubtedly the fight of the evening.

A draw was about fair, although had it been an eight or ten-rounder it is probable that Kenna's superior fitness would have told.

And given the torrid opening two rounds, he should feel proud of fighting back to preserve his unbeaten professional record.

The disappointing start can probably be explained by several factors.

Kenna may have felt jaded from more than seven hours in the car that day due to heavy traffic on the M6.

And having sparred with southpaw Olympic champion Audley Harrison, he may have been surprised to learn just before the fight that Buttery had switched back to orthodox.

But credit should also go to the Preston boxer, whose strength would clearly threaten anyone early in a contest.

It was the type of fight Kenna probably needed and he has certainly answered two questions never previously been posed.

Yes, he can take a punch and, yes, he undoubtedly has the heart of a champion.

Kenna hopes to box again by the end of the year, before his manager Jack Bishop puts on a home show at Southampton Guildhall on January 31 next year.

But for now the Dublin-born fighter is taking a week off - and no one could say he hasn't earned it.

Buttery no soft touch

COLIN Kenna admitted he made a mistake going toe-to-toe with Paul Buttery early in the fight.

He said: "I fought the wrong type of fight early on and went to war with him.

"But as the fight went on I started to mix it up more and boxed him better.

"He got tired, I felt it was my fight later on and I was picking him off quite well. It was a good fight and I enjoyed it."

Kenna conceded Buttery was a tougher opponent that he had expected, but said he had learnt from the experience.

"He was much stronger and bigger than I thought. I was surprised by that and all credit to him, he is a good fighter.

"He caught me early on, but never really hurt me. I was never in serious trouble.

"He was by far my toughest opponent - it's no good just banging people out early on. I need to be tested and that was good for me."

He added: "I thought a draw was a fair decision - it is hard to come back in these six round fights after a bad start.

"If it had been a longer fight I think I could have won it on my fitness."

Manager Jack Bishop predicted Kenna still had a big future in heavyweight boxing.

He said: "Colin has showed he is as tough as they make them. Not many people could have stood up to some of the punches he took early on and I still think he will go a long way.

"I was not really happy with the way he fought this fella. Colin can box beautifully, but he went out to fight this guy from the start which was the wrong approach.

"It was a big learning curve tonight and although he can box much better, I am pleased with the way he got himself back into the fight."