The latest news from the local boxing scene

Classy southpaw Johnny Coyle continued his winning ways at the Brentwood Centre on Saturday night, before making a plea for some serious title action.

With a clear points win over Amsterdam-based Innocent Anyanwu to make it 18 pro fights unbeaten, the 24 -year-old insisted: “I want a real championship clash, I know I am ready to move up to some big money matches.”

The super-lightweight, who is trained by Alec Wilkey at his Poplar gym, has some good fighters on his victim list.

Coyle’s boxing CV also includes a Prizefighter tournament win, a Southern Area title success and a WBC Youth intercontinental victory.

But the super-lightweight has his sights set on higher honours and is looking for the MTK promotion group to deliver his big chance before the end of the year.

He cannot help comparing his status with that of his close pal super-featherweight Martin J Ward, who joined Coyle’s group of fans roaring him on from the ringside in Brentwood.

With just one more win than Coyle on his unbeaten record, Ward is the current British and Commonwealth champion, with his last eight fights all being championship contests on big bills around the country.

The super-lightweight came through his latest test convincingly, beating Nigeria-born Anyanwu, a 50-fight veteran with a reputation for durability earned in a dozen-year career.

Coyle’s long southpaw jab dominated the exchanges as his rival tried to bustle inside and unsettle his rival at close quarters.

Anyanwu has power in his punches, proved by his record of 15 stoppage wins in his 25 victories, but he never looked like adding the durable Coyle to that list.

The long range jabbing and effective combinations gave the winner seven of the eight rounds, with one drawn, on referee Lee Every’s 80-73 scorecard.

Wilkey backs his fighter’s plea for a real championships challenge, saying: “Johnny is in his fifth year as a pro and is still unbeaten with some good names on his record. I hope he gets the chance he deserves.”