Steve Orford had to call on all his experience to see off the challenge of Poland’s Wojtek Wieczorek and claim the vacant Queensbury Boxing League Southern Area cruiserweight title last week.

In front of a packed arena at the Effingham Park Hotel, the 38-year-old from New Addington had to fight his way through a barrage of punches in the opening round before establishing a foothold and emerging victorious thanks to a majority points decision.

Victory signalled a remarkable resurgence in Orford’s boxing career after he came out of retirement this year but the newly crowned champion admitted the contest was harder than expected.

“That was a tough fight and he surprised me with just how awkward he was and how good his jab was,” he said.

“We had been watching footage of him from his previous fight and he looked quite good, but in that first round he kept catching me with that long jab of his.

“It did hit me a fair few times and he was throwing more combinations which were harder to get past.

“I felt as the fight progressed I really started to find my rhythm and started to land my shots and the last two rounds were my best.”

In light middleweight action, Croydon’s Daniel Humphreys and Sonny Eady went head to head in a lively encounter as both made their first competitive league debuts – with Humphreys taking the spoils.

Highlights will be on British Eurosport on May 25th.