Ryan Walsh impresses in first defence of British featherweight title

Ryan Walsh produced a brilliant first defence of his British featherweight title with a stunning fifth-round KO against Aberdeen's Darren Traynor.

There was no feeling out in this one, with both fighters at each other from the start and Walsh's legs were wobbled in the second after a powerful over-hand right.

He recovered, with both fighters sitting on their jabs before Walsh upped the pace in the third, landing some good combinations and opening up a nasty cut on the right eye of his Scottish opponent. 

The Cromer man continued to jab and stretch his advantage before settling the bout in the fifth as a sharp right, three left hooks and a final right sent Traynor to the ropes and prompted the referee to wave it off at the count of eight. 
 
"It's amazing to start the year off with a big win and a big performance. Darren was a tough opponent and put up a good fight for the first few rounds until my accuracy and power came through and I found myself landing at will and I knew then it was only a matter of time before I nailed him," said Walsh.
 
"In the fifth round I could see that I was hurting him and then I landed a beautiful combination starting with the right hand and three left hooks and a final right hand to send him crashing through the ropes and I knew he wasn't going to be getting up, thankfully the ref called it off."