BOXING: Blackwell rules Brittania

The 24-year-old star, from Trowbridge, was in the ring for his third crack at the Lord Lonsdale middleweight strap against the rock-solid John Ryder but ‘Bang Bang’ grabbed opportunity by the scruff of the neck and took the title with a spectacular seventh-round stoppage – the first of Ryder’s career.

On the biggest stage of his life at London’s O2 Arena, Blackwell got off to a tricky start as Ryder attempted to grab a stranglehold on proceedings, maintaining a near-impenetrable guard whilst bloodying the nose of the Trowbridge man.

Blackwell was struggling to impose himself in the early rounds and was left with blood streaming from his nose after the end of the first.

The red river was even more prominent after the second but in the fourth round, Ryder was left leaking from a cut under his right eye and that seemingly slowed down ‘the Gorilla’, with the home fighter’s momentum momentarily curtailed.

Ryder attempted to launch a fightback in round five and his unflinching style did lead to some reward but that allowed Blackwell to land a few shots of his own as the contest quickly developed into a brutal war.

Both fighters appeared able to do damage at will but as the clock wound on, ‘Bang Bang’ began to find his feet and look more assured in his attempts to avoid Ryder’s heavy hands.

Punches were ducked and countered as the warrior from Wiltshire fought back and when he unleashed a punishing straight right midway through round seven, there were sharp draws of breath and impassioned roars across the arena.

Ryder was rocked to his core.

The Londoner’s hands dropped and after a split-second where he was almost overcome with his own accomplishment, Blackwell was allowed to fire away a barrage of fearsome shot, which all found the head of a defenceless Ryder.

Referee Foster had seen enough and leapt into the fray to bring the fight to an end, leaving an emotional Blackwell to savour the most monumental moment of his career so far.