Family celebrations as Lucas Ballingall enjoys dominant Southsea success

His dominant performance to win the super-featherweight contest at South Parade Pier on Saturday crowned a great weekend with his brother Mikey McKinson having successfully defended his WBC Silver title in London the night before, writes Andrew Fairley.

Ballingall saw off an opponent who had posed problems for two of his stablemates in the past, having drawn with Floyd Moore and beaten Ross Jameson.

The talented Portsmouth boxer, who has now turned 22, celebrating his birthday three days after his win, said: '˜I'm happy I dominated the fight and that was only the second time I've gone past four rounds.

'˜I was never in trouble and while that wasn't the best of me in there, I did a better job than my team-mates Ross and Floyd.

'˜He definitely came to have a fight. I spoke to him afterwards and he said that when he saw me he thought I was just a kid but when I started hitting him he went into panic mode and was cautious throughout the fight after that.

'˜It was a good weekend for the family. Mikey's fight was amazing, especially with it being on TV.

'˜I was there to support him but stayed focused on my fight with Connelly.

'˜I'm buzzing we both came out with the wins.'

Ballingall employed a wide repertoire of shots to keep his lively opponent at bay, a highly accurate jab proving particularly effective.

Connelly sought to land his own punches but Ballingall showed great movement to evade most of the traffic coming his way while punishing Connelly every time he missed.

It was an outstanding showing in Southsea and the victor still has yet to lose a single round in professional boxing.

Ballingall added: '˜It was good to get six rounds in again and when I get the big title fights I'll need that experience.

'˜I believe if I'd have had another round in there I'd have stopped him, he was fading fast and in the last round was just surviving.

'˜I was getting stronger, pushing him back and pressuring him more, but he was a tough man.'

In supporting contests, Southampton lightweight Harry Limburn gave a convincing display to beat Stockport's Jamie Quinn over four rounds and take his record to three wins from three fights.

At super-lightweight Rohan Date, from Manchester, entertained with a third round stoppage of Dutch Nigerian Innocent Anyanwu.