Epsom's Tommy Eastwood won the Southern Area Cruiserweight title on Friday night in dominant style at the home of British boxing, York Hall in Bethnal Green, writes Melanie Lloyd.

Eastwood, 27, went into the title bout as underdog against the previously unbeaten Junior McDonald from Lewisham, but showed tremendous skill and power to force the referee to end the contest at the end of the second round.

McDonald looked confident as he swaggered into the ring, but Eastwood attacked straight from the first bell.

McDonald attempted to use his extra height and reach to fend Eastwood off behind his jab but the Epsomian refused to give him the distance to work, staying close and landing with punishing body shots.

The writing was on the wall for the Lewisham boxer when, towards the end of the first round, he threw a roundhouse right. Eastwood made him miss and countered with a cracking left hook to the body which had McDonald gasping.

Eastwood continued to swarm all over his opponent at every opportunity and, by the end of the session, McDonald looked quite overwhelmed.

There was no let up in the second round. Eastwood backed McDonald straight onto the ropes and let rip with a ferocious 10-punch combination. McDonald buckled under the pressure and he went down for the count of eight. He rose unsteadily, referee Richie Davies looked into his eyes and allowed the fight to continue.

The Epsom powerhouse wasted no time leaping back in, throwing about 20 shots from every angle. McDonald had nothing left, and was out on his feet when the referee jumped in to stop the fight and proclaim Eastwood the Southern Area champion.

Afterwards, an overjoyed Eastwood, who has now won 12 of his 14 professional fights, said: "That was lovely. It was explosive, like there was a time bomb waiting to go off. I was just waiting for the right time.

"In the last few seconds, when I caught him with that right upper-cut, I felt the shock waves going up my arm and I knew I had him."

His veteran trainer, Les Southey, added: "I have had my professional manager and trainer licence for 30 years, but tonight is the best night I have ever had in boxing."