Crystal Palace’s Craig Richards wins British light-heavyweight title

Craig Richards is the new British light-heavyweight champion – and produced a knockout for his showreel to dethrone Shakan Pitters.

The Crystal Palace was an underdog going into the contest in Redditch last night but floored his opponent in the fourth round.

And although Pitters managed to recover from that real moment of adversity it was another big right which sagged him into the ropes before a huge left hook dropped him to the canvas.

Amazingly he did manage to climb to his feet and beat the count, referee Victor Loughlin correctly waved the contest over.

Richards, 30, moved his record to 16-1-1. His only loss was to Frank Buglioni when he challenge for the domestic title in 2017. But back then he was a late replacement – this time the bout had been in the pipeline for an extended period with three previous postponements.

It was a heavy right hand to the back of the head in the fourth which first put Pitters into distress with another right dropping him on to the seat of his pants.

Richards upped the punch tempo as he looked to finish the job but had a quieter fifth, perhaps due to the energy expended.

Both men had success with their jab and the bout seemed finely poised until the explosive finish by the South Londoner, who claimed his ninth stoppage of his five-year professional career.

PICTURES: HENNESSY SPORTS