BOXER Danny Brown would relish a shot at a Southern Area title after winning the British Masters middleweight crown.

The South Woodham Ferrers fighter secured the victory against Diego Burton in a rematch at Bethnal Green’s famous York Hall.

After the gruelling 10-round contest, 37-year-old Brown admitted a regional title would be the icing on the cake of his professional career.

“There has been no talk yet regarding a defence of my British Masters crown, but I would still like to go for an area title,” said Brown, who lived in Wickford before moving to South Woodham.

“Whether that can happen is another thing, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“A Southern Area title fight would be a dream come true for me because after turning pro at 34 it’s the most I can really hope for.”

Saturday’s bout was the third time Brown and Burton had squared up, with the Peckham fighter having won the previous two encounters on points.

The south Londoner expected the fight would be a 50-50 affair and would not go the distance.

But Brown was expecting a war of attrition and had prepared accordingly atWickford’s Newlands Gym under trainer Jason Rowland.

“I knew it was going to go the 10 because Diego is a very tough boy,” Brown added.

“The idea for the first couple of rounds was not to go behind.

“I think I won the first three rounds and that meant I was not playing a chasing game, but it was a tough fight.”

The victory also meant Brown erased the pain of losing the British Masters title to Burton a year ago.

The pugilist plasterer said he thought he did enough to win that first title fight but won more convincingly in the rematch.

And he praised Rowland’s input which helped him secure the victory.

“I’d like to thank Jason for the hard work he put in with me in the gym,” added Brown.

“We worked on my left upper cut and that was the shot that worked for me all night.

“Everything I did came off and I couldn’t have done it without Jason’s help.”

Brown, who thanked sponsors Ampro and Sugar Ray’s, expects to start running again this weekend and will return to the gym next week.