WITHAM boxer Tom Ansell admitted that his latest opponent gave him some thinking to do, but he was delighted to extend his perfect run of wins as a professional fighter.

The 25-year-old, who works as a personal trainer at Witham Leisure Centre, won his fourth bout in the pro ranks as he scored a points victory in his welterweight fight against Fonz Alexander.

The experienced Alexander proved a tough nut to crack for Ansell, who floored his opponent in the first round with a booming right-hand shot, but he said it was a fight that showed the progression he was making as he continued working towards a possible title bout.

"I was very happy with how it went but I had to box completely differently," said Ansell.

"I was put on the back foot early on and I had to deal with that.

"I managed to drop him early on, though, as I caught him with a right hand that was probably the best that I have ever thrown.

"But he got up and showed what a tough fighter he is.

"He has been stopped just three times in about 90 fights and he made me think in a way that I hadn't done before and I had to box on the back foot.

"Had it been anyone else in my weight division, I think they would have stayed down after the right hand that I caught him with, but he carried on and made me think about what I had to do.

"I thought to myself that I may not be able to knock everyone out and I had to use my boxing brain.

"He is someone who had been around the best fighters and those type of boxers are put in the way of up and coming people like me so I had to deal with it and I was pleased that I did."

Following his latest success and maintaining his perfect run of victories as a professional, Ansell is now ready to step up again and said his next fight will be a six-round affair rather than the four that he has boxed in so far.

He added: "I'm expecting to fight again on September 22 in a show, probably at York Hall, that will be over six rounds.

"That will be another step up as I slowly increase, but it is a massive step towards a potential title fight.

"Everything is on track at the moment and my coach is looking at setting something up in the next 12 to 18 months."