BOXING: JOHN Dignum said he fed off is fans’ excitement as he claimed an assured four-round decision win over the experienced Kieron Gray at York Hall.

The 21-year-old from Bowers Gifford won every round against the 35-year-old from Telford to claim his third victory from his first four pro fights. Dignum said: “I’m pleased with how it went. In the first round he came out all guns blazing and tried to bully me. He was swinging big right hands and trying to knock my head off, but I stuck to my game plan and out-boxed him.

“We worked on throwing a few more body shots in the build-up, and it was good to do that, as well as try out more variety of shots.

“It was a learning curve and was a good experience to fight at a great venue and on such a big card with Billy Joe Saunders and Bradley Skeete also fighting.

“It was also great to have fans there like that because they make you want to fight. They are the reason you want to do this and it was good to get the win for them.”

Dignum won the super-middleweight bout 40-36 on the cards in the first fight of the night at the Frank Warren promotion in Bethnal Green.

He says the plan is for him to have one more four-round contest before stepping up to a six-round encounter the next time.

Saunders maintained his unbeaten record after successfully defending his British and Commonwealth middleweight titles with a unanimous points victory over Matthew Hall in a fight screened live on BoxNation.

John Dignum’s win marked another fine week for the Dignum household, with twin brother Danny also on the brink of his first tournament call-up for Great Britain.

The former Appleton School boy – who replaced London 2012 bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo in the GB squad – is hoping to compete at the Gee Bee international which takes place in Helsinki between April 11-15. For boxing see the Gazette every week