BOXER Louis Nicoll packed a punch in his last fight of 2014.

The 25-year-old had suffered disappointment in his previous outing – which he dubbed “the biggest fight of my life” – after losing to Richard Vella at the Battle of Britain event, at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

It was his first-ever defeat in his 17th fight.

However, he got back on the victory trail with a stylish success against current IBA Irish light middleweight champion Stuart Jess, at Colchester’s Liquid Envy nightclub on Saturday night.

“It was a great result and fantastic to get back to winning ways,” said Nicoll, who lives in Great Bentley and trains at Champions Gym, in Colchester. “I was very fit so was looking forward to doing the scheduled six rounds.

“But it became quite apparent early in the fight that he didn’t have enough to hold me off.

“He was a very tough lad and on the occasions he did catch me it felt like he had power.

“That probably worked against him, though, because at no point did I switch off, as I didn’t want to get caught off-guard.”

Car salesman Nicoll, a former pupil at Colchester’s Thomas Lord Audley School, is already looking forward to getting back in action in 2015.

And he said he was spurred on by the biggest support he has had for any of his previous fights.

“I’m so glad to be back to winning ways and can’t wait to get out again next year,” he said.

“I also had the biggest support I’ve ever had for this fight, which helps so much when you’re out there.

“I’d really like to say a massive thank you to all who bought tickets and came to support me.

“My work have also been great, in terms of time off for sparring and leaving early for training.

“Without all this support, it wouldn’t be possible for me to box at this level so I’m a very lucky lad.”