Charlie Hickford rose to the occasion on Friday night to see off the challenge from a tough late replacement.

‘Classy’ Hickford beat highly competitive South American boxer Darwing Martinez 39-37 at York Hall, the featherweight contest taking place prior to Sam Noakes’ EBU European lightweight title defence.

Hickford’s in the early stages of his pro career and didn’t have it easy in his third pro fight, with Martinez proving a tricky opponent after replacing Frenchman Frenchman Kaddour Hmiani, who had to pull out with an injury.

The Cliffe fighter impressed again, however, delivering a thrilling spectacle for those at the Bethnal Green venue and the viewers watching live on TNT Sports.

Hickford - known for his technical brilliance and composed demeanour in the ring - showcased his exceptional skills once again.

From the opening bell, the 22-year-old’s strategy was clear, using his superior footwork and precise punches to outmanoeuvre Martinez.

The highlight of the fight came in the third round of four, where Hickford delivered an exemplary performance, throwing an impressive 107 punches, landing 73 of them with pinpoint accuracy.

That third round was a testament to Hickford’s dominance and technical prowess, leaving Martinez struggling to keep up.

Martinez proved a formidable opponent, however, with a reputation for relentless aggression and he didn’t make it easy for the Medway man, who had to dig deep and bring out his best.

Hickford fought with with poise and confidence to take the win and expressed his gratitude afterwards, saying: “I just want to thank my promoter, Frank Warren, and my manager, Francis Warren, for another opportunity to shine.

“I have the backing of the best in the world, Queensbury Promotions, and CSM Management. I can’t thank them enough. I’m living my childhood dream.

“My coaching team, Dan Woledge and my father Steve, know how to bring the best out of me and were pleased with my performance.

“It was a decent test and I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym this week and continuing my training and development.”

Head coach Dan Woledge also commented on the performance, saying: “I was pleased with the performance against a very tough last minute opponent, especially for this early in his career.

“It could have been a risky fight at this stage but he adjusted well during the bout and used his experience and class to get a well deserved win.

“He’s transitioning well to the professional ranks, I’m very excited and thankful to be joining him on his journey.”