HARD training through the winter paid off for Minehead Boxing Club’s Dave Lewis on Saturday night when he beat the most experienced boxer he has faced.

He took on S Aci from the Bristol Empire Club at the city’s Merriott Hotel and his dedication through all weathers was rewarded with a points win.

The first round was cagey, with both boys weighing each other up, and although Aci stepped up the pressure in the second, Lewis countered everything which was thrown at him and slightly edged it.

In the third round, Lewis started to pressurise his opponent, and towards the end changed his stance to southpaw to try to further unsettle him.

But that backfired as the experienced Bristol boy read it straight away and caught Lewis with some good shots.

The Minehead fighter quickly realised his mistake, changed back to his orthodox stance and resuming catching Aci with some solid shots.

It was then into uncharted territory as Lewis had never boxed four rounds before and, knowing this, Aci came out strongly but Lewis stood his ground and landed some good body shots, putting him under pressure until the end of the bout.

Before the decision as announced, the referee applauded both boxers for a clean, well-fought contest then raised Lewis’s hand in victory.