Craig Morris felt like Ludlow's superstar

The town's first professional in over 75 years headlined the first pro boxing show staged in Ludlow since the 1930s, writes Craig Birch.

Unbeaten Morris claimed the British Challenge light middleweight title in the main event, with a dominant points victory.

A sold-out crowd at Ludlow Racecourse turned up to support the 23-year-old southpaw, who took an William Warburton in a scheduled eight-rounder.

He prevailed in points by a scoreline of 78-75, taking into account the first two rounds for Warburton after a shaky start.

His arm was lifted in emphatic fashion at the final bell, after a reception and experience that the Shropshire prospect will never forget.

He said: "It was brilliant. I've boxed better, to be honest, but the buzz around the place for me was something that will stay with me for a long time.

"I've normally got a game face on when I come out to fight, I focus on the job I've got to do and don't let the crowd bother me.

"But the noise for this one was something else, from the changing room to the ring I couldn't help but smile and love it.

"To get the belt was awesome and even coming out was brilliant. Everyone I saw wanted to have selfies with me. I felt like Floyd Mayweather!"

Morris was onto his third opponent for the bout after Sullivan Mason pulled out for personal reasons, with Faheem Khan preferring a four-rounder instead.

The super-game Warburton, boxing in his 117th pro contest having failed to complete the distance just twice, took the fight at short notice.

Morris found out on the job what he was all about and left with a begrudging respect for his rival, who took the fight to the home hopeful.

It wasn't a complete surprise, as Morris lost his first ever paid round to Warburton before outpointing him 39-37 over four when the two clashed at Walsall Town Hall on December 5.

He said: "Fair play to William for agreeing to this, because without him there might not have been a fight for me.

"My plan was to establish the jab early on, but it didn't work at the start. He was clever and closed down the distance.

"He's an horrible bloke - and I mean that in the nicest possible way! And he's tough, just quite how much even surprised me.

"I hurt him to the body and I thought I had him, at one stage, I just battered around the ribcage hoping that would take the wind out of him.

"But that's what William Warburton does, you get ready to pull the trigger and then, all of a sudden, he's throwing shots back at you.

"I've done eight hard rounds now at a relatively early point in my pro career and I want to build on this. I want nights like this as much as I can."

The three-fight dinner show also brought a victory for former Midlands welterweight champion Rob Hunt, from Stafford.

Hunt prevailed with a 40-36 points landslide over Khan, with both men nursing cuts when their bloodbath was complete.

The Black Country's Manny Zaber also rolled over his opponent over the distance, making it 5-0-0 as a professional.

Zaber dropped Ben Zacharkiw by feinting to put a left hook and a resounding right hand together and decked him again before the bell, to emerge with a wide 40-34 points decision.