DUDLEY featherweight Chris Male overcame a broken hand to win the first title of his professional career.

The punching postman recorded a strong points victory over Wiltshire’s Liam Richards to take the British Masters crown at Wolverhampton Civic Hall yesterday.

However, the win was anything but straightforward after Male broke his right hand in two places in the fourth round, as he sent Richards crashing to the canvas with a powerful uppercut.

Male fought on for the remaining six rounds one handed, using his jab to good effect to take the bout 98-92 according to referee Terry O’Connor.

Male said: “I thought in the circumstances I boxed really, really well.

“This was an unbeaten guy who came to win but I beat him, even with one hand.

“Things started great and I was sticking to the game plan.

“It was the punch which put him down where I broke my hand. To be fair to him had that not happened I don’t think he would have lasted much longer.

“It was then a case of using my jab, staying out of trouble and securing the win.”

Male had little time to celebrate, heading straight to hospital to have treatment on his hand.

The injury is likely to require surgery and could see him out of action for six months. Unfortunate timing for a fighter now unbeaten in nine fights, though Male remains upbeat.

He added: “It’s disappointing but that’s boxing.

“It was good experience for me to be in that situation, I still dominated the fight.

“I’m over the moon with the performance.”

There was also a maiden title for welterweight Richie Ghent who stopped Stourbridge’s Martin Gordon in seventh round to take the International Masters belt.

Meanwhile, middleweight Jamie Ball extended his perfect record to ten fights after a points win over Leicestershire’s Lester Walsh.