The explosive right hand of Lee Purdy has brought the British Welterweight boxing title to Colchester.

Purdy has returned to his home town as the proud holder of the coveted Lonsdale belt after stopping title-holder Craig Watson in the fifth round of their contest in Manchester.

The 23-year-old lived up to his ‘lights out’ nickname when he ended a dominant display by detonating a left-right combination on to the chin of Watson to send him crashing to the canvas.

Despite Watson regaining his feet, the referee had seen enough as he ruled the fight over to save the Mancunian fighter from further punishment and held Purdy’s hand aloft as the new British champion.

Purdy told the Standard: “It brought me to tears in the ring afterwards.

“I was ecstatic, but I always believed I could win.

“It is the Lonsdale belt and if you are a British fighter that is the most prestigious thing that you can have."

See this week's Essex County Standard for the full story.