STEVEN Pearce will put Christmas on ice to concentrate on building his boxing career.

The unbeaten 28-year-old recorded his sixth professional win with a unanimous points decision over Aaron Fox at the Venue last Friday but is already back in the gym, having been offered another fight in January.

“Fierce” Pearce knows this means skipping the festive season but says he cannot afford to dawdle on his boxing dream with a shot at the Midland crown on the horizon.

He said: “There is no time for rest, I had one night out on Saturday to celebrate the win and now I’m picking up where I left off.

“When I was offered the fight in January I did think twice as it comes so soon after Christmas but it just means it will be a very quiet one for me.

“I’m not that young and I need to take the fights when I can, I can’t afford to rest up because you don’t know what’s around the corner.

“The plan is to go for the Midland title after my next fight and I want to keep busy.”

Pearce was full of praise for Trowbridge-based Fox, who stood up to some hefty punishment during their four-round contest.

He said: “I knew from the start his gameplan would not work against me.

“He is a come forward fighter and was always within punching range.

“I thought the ref was going to step in on a couple of occasions. He is a tough, hard man and I really do not know how he didn’t go down.

“I have to thank him for coming and making a fight of it, he never stopped coming forward and never held on.”

Kyle Spencer continued the success for Brierley Hill-based Coops Boxing Camp with a points win over William Warburton but there was disappointment in the main event, where Chris Male’s bid to win the English featherweight crown ended in defeat to Josh Warrington.

Pearce, who has known Male for more than a decade, said he shared the disappointment.

He said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever felt sad after winning. We’ve been friends for more than 10 years and to see him lose was devastating.”