Champion Martin Gethin targets Lonsdale belt

Gethin claimed the vacant crown and was saluted as a hometown hero with a ninth round stoppage of Ben Murphy at Walsall Town Hall last weekend.

And Murphy, from Hove in Sussex, retired this week after failing to become British champion a second time, leaving a long road back to the belt.

That was the margin between success and failure and Gethin has already had a voluntary defence, mooted for April in Birmingham, put to him.

Anthony Crolla and Derry Mathews - both former British champions - contest the vacant Commonwealth title on March 30 so are out of the equation.

But now it's Gethin calling the shots and the 29-year-old must defend his crown three times successfully to claim the title and a Lonsdale belt outright.

He said: "I want to do that and then move on from there, I want to get as much out of boxing as I can and that means more titles, like the European.

"To have a Lonsdale belt on my mantle-piece for the rest of my life would be special, I wouldn't be able to wait to get up every day and look at it!

"People are starting to recognise me now, when I start to beat the other British title contenders they will recognise me even more."

Murphy walks away from the sport aged 32 and his last time in the ring saw him show true sportsmanship, despite his obvious disappointment.

With Gethin elated at winning the British title in front of his friends and family, he didn't even notice his opponent's warm applause at the final bell.

He said: "I was surprised, I wasn't expecting him to retire, he's beaten some good lads and he gave everything in our fight, he just couldn't break me.

"I always believed I could win but I didn't think it would be by stoppage, I knew how strong he was and I had full respect for him and still have.

"I didn't actually realise how he reacted until afterwards but it was nice of him to clap and congratulate me on my win, he seems a nice man.

"I wish him and his family all of the best of future, I hope he has a good life."