WORCESTER amateur boxer Ashley James beat Martin Langtry to claim the Midland super-heavyweight novice title.

Langtry, unbeaten in eight fights, went straight after James from the start.

With James having superior height and a reach advantage, the Bracebridge boxer could not afford to stand back and let his Worcester opponent dominate.

The Langtry attacks came from various angles, frustrating James who struggled to find his rhythm.

But the frantic pace was always going to be difficult to maintain which proved to be the case once James settled into range.

Hard jabs forced Langtry to back-peddle in the latter stages of round one.

A hard right jolted the Lincolnshire boxer’s head back and forced him onto the ropes.

He appeared to reel back in discomfort, holding his back.

James was a bit late in capitalising on his opponent’s misfortune but fired home several straight punches before the bell.

In some pain, the Bracebridge corner retired Langtry before the start of round two.

The victory leads James on to the national quarter-finals at Retford where he will face Yorkshire’s Matthew Omar.