A HEREFORD boxer won his second professional boxing contest - and then celebrated with a pirouette.

Liam O’Hare, a member of The City of Hereford Boxing Academy, defeated Josh Hodgins in a super middleweight fight in Birmingham.

A former student at Monmouth School for Boys, O'Hare wore green shorts and white gloves in the ring.

The Hereford boxer showed great footwork and shot selection, recording an emphatic 40-36 victory in a lively contest, which went the four-round distance.

O’Hare was cheered on by a large group of supporters from Hereford in Friday’s show.

“I felt really good, although I was flagging a bit in the final round,” said O’Hare, who trained at Elmhurst Ballet School in his youth.

“I only had a three-week training camp to get ready for the fight, so I did my best in the time I was given.”

He added: “In my first professional fight, I came forward quite a lot and I tried to be the aggressor. In this fight, I thought I would try to go on the back-foot a bit more and see how that went - and it paid off.”

O’Hare acknowledged his durable and more experienced opponent, whom he felt had a very strong defence.

“Hopefully, I can keep smiling and keep loving my boxing as I progress in my professional career,” he added.

Previously, O’Hare had defeated Kevin McCauley, a veteran of 248 bouts, on his professional debut in December.

O’Hare was a pupil at The Grange (now Monmouth Prep School) and a student at Monmouth School for Boys.

While studying at Monmouth, he joined Lydney Boxing Club in the Forest of Dean.