LEDBURY Amateur Boxing Club’s Alex Florence beat Shaun Cooper at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.

The Walsall Wood competitor weighed in too heavy to contest Florence’s Central England men’s light welterweight champion belt but the pair fought anyway.

Florence, 18, showed plenty of skill and fast work in the first round before powerfully dropping Cooper with a body shot in the second. The Ledbury ace eventually won by a unanimous decision.

Coach and father Fred Florence said: “I am very happy with the way Alex is maturing in his boxing, showing awesome skill and power for his weight.

“I cannot wait until his body matures into a proper senior. Hopefully, in the next year he will be turning over to the pro game.”

The teenage fighter said: “I’ve been around boxing and started training when I was five. I am 18 now and training as hard as I can.

“I am planning on going as far as I can in my career, hopefully to the top. If there’s any sponsors out there that want to sponsor me, I will fully appreciate all the help I can get.”