DUDLEY boxing sensation Connor Lee Jones took victory in his eagerly anticipated professional debut.

Highly decorated as an amateur, Jones has won both the Midlands and English junior titles during his time in the non-professional ranks.

Many are already excited about the Brierley Hill boxers’ transition and it was not hard to see why as he was the dominant force in the early stages of his bout with Liam Richards.

Fighting as part of BCB Promotions’ ‘Emerging Stars’ event at the Willows Banqueting Suite, in Willenhall, Jones looked assured on the bigger stage.

He started the brighter of the pair – chasing Richards around the ring and not giving him a moments rest with his non-stop jabs.

Jones planted a number of big blows to his opponent’s chest, before pinning Richards up on the ropes thanks to his quick feet and even quicker hands.

Richards was never out of the fight though, putting in some hard shots of his own as Jones let his guard down.

As the bout wore on, Jones kept on the front foot, attacking Richards with some heavy right hooks which excited the crowd.

But after four three minutes rounds, the decision went down to the judges, with Jones coming out victorious on points 40-36.

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Photo: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

Before the fight, Jones said: “I just can’t wait to get in there and make the transition into the professional game, I know that my first couple of fights will be massive learning experiences for me, it’s all going to be about getting used to how everything is in the pro ranks.”

During his amateur career, the fighter has been under the tutelage of world class coaches such as Bob Dillon, with Jones praising the impact his coaches have had on him and the way they’ve helped him make the transition into the professional ranks.

“Guys like Bob Dillon really are world class coaches and they know the ins and outs of boxing which has really helped me prepare for my pro debut.”

On his fighting style Jones added: “I am very comfortable with both boxing off the back foot and picking my shots and also really pushing the pace of fights and being on the front foot. I think I’m able to balance between the two really well and mix it up when I have to.”

Emerging Stars was topped by a ten-round battle for the English bantamweight title between Kyle Williams and defending champion Thomas Essomba.

Williams picked himself up off the canvass to lift the title as the 26-year-old from Wolverhampton showed guts to obtain glory against his granite-chinned opponent over ten absorbing rounds.

Williams started brightly and was easing into the fight when, with seconds to go in the opener, Essomba unloaded a left-hand bomb to the back of the challenger’s head which sent him sprawling to the canvass.

Visibly shaken, Williams was saved by the bell six seconds in to a standing eight count and his corner team of Errol Johnson, Paul Mann and Taffy Evans worked wonders to ensure that he was back on steady feet at the start of the second.

Massive credit to Williams, he shook the knock down off and got back to his boxing as he executed the game plan to perfection.

He went on to control the middle rounds and managed to drop his Cameroon-born opponent in the seventh. A short burst of well-placed shots saw Essomba touch the canvass, complaining of a slip.

The champion, who resides in Ryhope, finished strongly as he took the fire to Williams, who stood and traded at times.

At the end of an epic battle, Williams was awarded a split decision victory with Judges Howard Foster and Robert Williams both scoring the contest 93-96 Williams with Shaun Messer giving it to Essomba 96-94.

Triumphant, the fanatical Wolves supporter celebrated the win with his masses of fans. After lifting the Midlands and English Titles so far in 2018; Williams will now surely be honing in on the British Title currently occupied by Barnsley’s Josh Wale.

There was also title success for Williams’ stablemate, Lauren Johnson. ‘The Black Widow’ was crowned International Challenge Middleweight Champion with a deserved points win over Hungary’s Klaudia Vigh. Johnson used her size advantage to good effect, boxing well behind the jab to claim victory.

There were also wins for Wolverhampton cruiserweight Antony Woolery, Swadlincote welterweight, Connor Parker, Polish welterweight Damian Kiwior and Ludlow’s IBO Continental welterweight Champion, Craig Morris.