Coventry boxer Dean Pithie could not disguise his delight last night after he resurrected his career with a quick-fire victory over South African Andrew Matabola.

The 25-year-old secured the World Boxing Council’s International Super-featherweight bout when the referee stopped Matabola in the dying stages of round two.

The win was all the sweeter owing to the fact that the Coventry man had lost to the same opponent, at the same venue just five months ago.

And although this victory now opens several boxing doors for Pithie, he is just content to revel in the glory for the time being.

He said:

"I am completely overwhelmed at the moment. I can’t believe it to tell you the truth. I just went into the ring and my game plan went perfectly.

"I didn’t think I was going to take him out as quickly as I did, I knew I was capable of knocking him out but not that quickly."

And talking about the moment when he knew the fight was his, Pithie described the punch that left his South African opponent floundering.

He said:

"I hit him with a right and a left hook, and I knew when I caught him with the left hook that it was all over.

"I looked over in the corner and saw Spencer (Oliver) telling me to go at him and go and finish it, and that is what I did."

Last night’s fight was part of a Sky TV programme which was held at the Coventry Sports Centre and saw five boxers in total from the city competing.

Incredibly all won their bouts including light-heavyweight Neil Simpson who was victorious in a title eliminator against Hull’s Tony Booth and will now clash with British champion Clinton Woods.