Alex Branson-Cole thinks his latest win will stand him in good stead as his breakthrough year heads towards its conclusion.

The Faversham fighter conceded he was not at his best on Saturday but, nevertheless, he edged out Bahadur Karami to make his record 3-0 since turning professional.

“It’s the toughest fight I’ve had in the professional ranks so far but it puts me in good stead and puts me up the rankings,” said Branson-Cole.

“I wouldn’t say I fought my best but I did enough.”

Branson-Cole has been left with a cut by his left eye after the bout at the Tolworth Recreation Centre, though.

He said: “I knocked him down in the second round - that got scored as a 10-8 round - so I knew I was up.

“The third round, there was a clash of heads, but we cleaned it up and pushed forward from there.”

There was plenty of support from Kent at the Surbiton venue for Branson-Cole.

“The support was great, as always,” said roofer Branson-Cole. “The people of Faversham came for it.

“It was great support and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

He feels ready to go again but intends to spend time with his family and is unlikely to box again in 2022.

Branson-Cole said: “Mentally, you feel like you want to go again, but you have to listen to your body.

“I have had three camps in the build-up to this fight, and it’s been quite tiring. So I will have a break and enjoy myself and, obviously, let my cut heal.

“I have got work this week so I’ll crack on a little bit.

"I’ll go away with the missus and the dogs to relax. Then we are back at it after that.”

Branson-Cole, sponsored by Quadrant Plumbing, Hadley Electrical Services, SimCig Limited, Diamond Carpentry and Boosted, will use the profits from ticket sales to support Faversham's Foodbank.