SOUTHEND heavyweight Michael Bourne made a successful defence of his IBA title with a classy second-round knock-out of Leeds’ Brad Conway.

It was an assured performance from the athletically-built 6ft 1in fighter in front of a packed crowd at the Talk nightclub, in Lucy Road, Southend, on Saturday night.

It took his record to 17 wins and one defeat, and promoter Scott Elliott said: “Michael really was patient and it was the best performance I’ve ever seen from him.

“He only started boxing a few years ago and he’s come such a long way.

“His first fight is on You Tube and you have to say he looks a bit scrappy in it.

“But he’s come and trained with the lads at the Locker Room gym and he’s come a long way and now people are talking about him being a real prospect.”

The classiest win on the night came for Southend’s IBA super-middleweight champion John Cullinane as he picked up an unanimous points win over Portugal’s Marco Berenguer following their four-round contest.

And there was also a points win for Southend’s Helen Morley against Cambridge’s Mellisa Petaloudasm, as the club held its first-ever female bout.

For more information on training at the Lockeroom Gym in Southend, log-on to www.thelockerroom.biz