Munroe in dreamland

Munroe: European champion

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Rendall Munroe said his victory over Kiko Martinez in Nottingham was one of the best nights of his career.

Munroe won a majority points decision at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre to claim the European super-bantamweight crown.

The Leicester puncher weathered the champion's heavy blows to control the fight and earn a surprise, but well-deserved success.

Afterwards the 27-year-old - already the English title holder - admitted he was in dreamland.

"It's a big win for me," he said. "To come off the back of winning the English title and go for the European championship was a big step, but I did what needed to be done.

Going to plan

"I have put a lot of hard work into this and now I have got out what I have put in.

"The plan was to stay on the outside and win the fight and that is what I have done.

"That is up there with the best performances in my career so far, but there is still plenty more to come."

A dustman in his hometown by day, Munroe is rapidly proving he is one of British boxing's most exciting up-and-coming talents in the ring.

He moved his record on to 14 wins and just one loss with a superb display of controlled boxing.

Martinez had won the title in stunning fashion last August when he stopped highly-rated Irish prospect Bernard Dunne in a hail of left hooks in just a round in Dublin.

His heavy-handed style was apparent again here from the outset as he came out swinging more big lefts.

But Munroe worked behind his jab to weather all he had to give, and indeed he came back at regular intervals with hammer blows of his own.

It was enough to allow him to dictate the tempo of the fight and in the end there was an argument that the judges could have been even more favourable in their scoring.

Martinez threw plenty but the Englishman's was the slicker work, and Munroe insisted he always felt in control.

"Martinez came out with big shots," he added. "But when you throw them from way back then it is easy to see them coming.

"I just sat back, held my little spot, covered up, let him throw and then did what I wanted to do - just the way I was told."