Ross Minter is the new Southern Area welterweight champion after crushing holder Chas Symonds in three breathtaking rounds at the Elephant and Castle Leisure last night.

The Boss ruthlessley bombed The Bomber, flooring the unbeaten champion three times before referee Lee Cook waved the scheduled ten-rounder off after 2mins 18sec of the third.

The end came when a heavy combination to the head dropped Symonds by the ropes, for the second knock down of the round, and referee Cook stopped the bout without a count.

The champion had also been down in the second.

It was the Crawley fighter's 13th win against a cut-eye defeat and a draw.

Symonds looked confident at the start and both got stuck in, with the champion aiming to tee off with big shots to the head. Minter stayed composed, looking to jab from the outside.

When Symonds tried to open up in the second, Minter came back and, although Symonds tried show boating, as if pretending to be hurt, the challenger was starting to get through.

When Minter launched an attack, suddenly Symonds could not stay with him. Symonds tried to cover up, and punch back, but was put down by the ropes.

When he got up after the mandatory eight count, Minter was on to him at once.

A right counter put Symonds down for the second time, and although he fought back bravely he had no answer to the final combination that floored him.