Colchester boxer Lee Purdy surrendered his British Welterweight title as he was beaten on points by Colin Lynes at the York Hall in Bethnel Green.

Former British and European Light-Welterweight champion Lynes, from Hornchurch, was giving away nine years to his younger opponent in the fight that had been dubbed 'The Battle of Essex'.

However, the 33-year-old from the south of the county used his experience to out-box the reigning champion and become the oldest-ever holder of the British Welterweight title.

The fight started with Lynes boxing cleverly behind a sharp jab and moving smartly around the ring to prevent Purdy from settling.

The Colchester man tried to hurt Lynes with shots to the body, but failed to find the target conclusively enough to really slow the older fighter down.

It meant Lynes was well ahead on points by the halfway stage and in control of the fight.

As Purdy went looking for a decisive hit, he stumbled as he was caught on the chin with a leading right by Lynes in the tenth round and the referee called it as a knock down to leave the Colchester man further behind.

Purdy did catch his opponent with some telling shots as he faded towards the end of the 12 rounds, but the damage had been done in the earlier part of the contest.

At the end, one of the three judges had called the fight as a draw, but the other two gave big wins to the Hornchurch man and the Lonsdale belt was in new hands.