Gavin Tait clinched the Southern Area welterweight title after a close-fought contest with Chas Symonds.

Sheerness boxer Tait won Friday night’s 10-round bout at the Coronet Theatre in London on points to claim the coveted belt.

Symonds, who won the Southern title in 2004, was down in the third but Tait’s hopes faded after suffering cuts above both eyes in round six. Only after an examination by the ring-side doctor was the fight allowed to continue.

Both boxers had only been to 10 rounds once before in their professional careers and by the end of the fight both thought they had won.

Referee Robert Williams scored the contest 96-94 in Tait’s favour to hand him his first title of his professional career and open up the door to English and British title challenges.

The new champion said: “I have a lot of heart and I knew I would prevail. That’s what I did. I have won and I am really happy.

“It’s onwards and upwards now.”