IAN Wilson let rip two immaculate rounds of boxing to stun the favourite, Henry Castle, in their super featherweight clash on Friday night, writes Jonny Weeks. Wilson was due to fight John Baguley over six rounds in Dagenham. But when Baguley pulled out

IAN Wilson let rip two immaculate rounds of boxing to stun the favourite, Henry Castle, in their super featherweight clash on Friday night, writes Jonny Weeks.

Wilson was due to fight John Baguley over six rounds in Dagenham. But when Baguley pulled out with flu, Wilson was offered a daunting bout against Castle who was using it as his final preparation before a British title shot.

Wilson floundered in the first two rounds and was again beaten in the third, but came back to win by a TKO in the fifth.

"I was ecstatic," the 25-year-old Camden fighter said afterwards, "but you don't get anywhere without self-belief.

"Frank Maloney called me up and offered me the Castle fight on the day and even though I wasn't looking for someone like him, I took it anyway because I knew I was in the best shape of my life.

"I was the underdog as far as everyone else was concerned and, to be fair, he had the better of me in the first two rounds. But I didn't go there to make up the numbers.

"I'd taken a few good body shots from him and when that happens you tend to reply in the same way.

"I started hurting him with left hooks to the body and slowing him down.

"And I landed a left hook to the head in the fourth that would have sent him down if it wasn't for the ropes."

The following round Wilson dropped his opponent twice in quick succession with scything, pin-point body shots - both to the same spot.

He then set upon his experienced opponent, reigning blow after blow until the referee stepped in with Castle beaten back to the ropes.

"Maybe he started too fast, or maybe he thought I'd fade," said Wilson. "But I've always said I'm a slow starter and I improve with every round.

"I've been waiting for a chance to go six rounds and I was quite lucky this was over six, because if it had have been four I would have lost.

"He was still swinging at me even in the fifth. But he was hurting too much from the left hooks and eventually he folded.

Wilson's victory has ended Castle's chances of fighting for a title and boosted his own hopes of claiming a belt before the end of the year.

"I need more rounds and more experience," he said.

"Whoever I take next I want six rounds with because it's all a learning curve for me.

"But it would be nice to get a title fight by the end of the year, or next year.