Celtic joy for James as local lad takes the title

James may not have taken the title in emphatic style but it was his physical strength on the inside that made the local hero simply too hot to handle for Hughes. The Scottish former champion was disqualified by referee Ian John-Lewis in round seven for persistent holding.

“I hurt him at a point but he just kept on holding all the time,” said Tennyson. “He was very honest about that. He told me and the referee as well that I was too strong for him and that was all he could do.

“Every time I tried to get a shot off he was clinging on to me so I couldn’t really get the shots off. The ones I did land were hurting him and that showed. He was burying in the head as well.”

James ended up with a cut eye following a sixth-round headbutt from Hughes but never seemed close to losing his cool. The Poleglass boxer showed a temperament belying his 21 years, by refusing to be dragged down to Hughes’ level, in front of a fervent crowd at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre.

“I tried to keep as composed as I could and just box. He was open to the right hand which I expected. I expected more of a fight from him than what I got to be honest,” added James.

The self-styled ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ will now cast his gaze towards potential Lonsdale belt opponents. Samir Mouneimne and Ryan Walsh are set to box for the vacant title with Tennyson leading the pack to fight the winner. Which one would he like to fight next?

“That’s down to my team and Mark (Dunlop, promoter),” he said. “I’m here to fight so if it’s the British title next then I’m ready.

“That’s a huge confidence boost for me getting my second title and it was a British title eliminator as well which I’m working towards next.”