Nico Earwaker, of Switch Hitters Keighley, is a welterweight champion after a sensation first round technical knockout.

He was fighting on a WF Promotions card in Leeds last weekend, but his journey to the title fight was not all plain sailing.

He initially encountered huge frustration, as after a tough training camp which saw him prepare for a tricky southpaw boxer, a spanner was thrown in the works with his original opponent pulling out due to illness.

A last-minute replacement saw his opponent changed to yet another, tough, tricky fighter in Jordan Battel.

However Earwaker rose to the occasion on the night and delivered a solid performance, securing the victory in the first round.

Nico Earwaker celebrates last weekend's success with the team who helped him achieve it.Nico Earwaker celebrates last weekend's success with the team who helped him achieve it. (Image: UGC.)

Earwaker immediately looked calm and confident in the ring, and after a few exchanges he had gained his rhythm.

After a flurry of punches from the Switch Hitters ace, Battel threw a huge counter right hand, which saw Earwaker smoothly slip out of range.

That ensured the potentially huge shot missed him completely, and he played up to the crowd asking where the punch had gone.

Earwaker quickly began to press forward once again, backing his man up to the ropes and landing a thunderous right hook to the body.

That caused Battel to drop to the floor but after a count of eight, he rose to his feet, meaning the fight could continue.

Within seconds though, Earwaker pressed forward once again, landing some clean shots before sinking the final blow heavily into his opponent’s stomach, sending him crumpling to the canvas.

The referee stepped in and began his count, just as the bell signalling the end of the round sounded.

Battel was unable to pick himself up off the floor at the second time of asking, so the referee waved off the fight.

The crowd went wild as Earwaker celebrated victory in his native West Yorkshire in style with a little dance, before being brought to the middle of ring for the announcement crowing him as the winner of the WF Promotions Welterweight Championship.

Earwaker does not have long to bask in that glory either before he goes again.

He is looking to become a double champion when he goes up against Taylor Brown at Kirkby Leisure Centre in Nottinghamshire on Saturday, September 14.