Nina Bradley defeated Feriche Mashuari in unanimous decision

NEWARK fighter Nina ‘Boom Boom’ Bradley is celebrating after being crowned the new Commonwealth super lightweight champion.

She beat Feriche Mashauri, of Tanzania, on a unanimous points decision at the King Power Stadium, Leicester.

Bradley, trained and promoted in Newark by former world super featherweight title holder Carl Greaves, won 97-93, 99-92 and 99-92.

Bradley said: “It has been an emotional ride but I have got there in the end. I am feeling amazing.

“It was ten tough rounds but in the end I did enough to make sure it was a comfortable win, I was the fitter fighter.”

It was Bradley’s sixth win of her professional career and continued her undefeated run.

She said: “When the referee had hold of both our hands, I looked over to my sister in the corner and she was crying.

“It was not a happy cry. She looked sad and that made me doubt myself. I thought I had lost.

“I thought about the different ways the judges could have viewed the fight ­— what if they awarded her hard-work, I though to myself.

“As my hand was raised by the referee I dropped to my knees and burst into tears.

“Even after a minute had passed I turned to Carl (Greaves) and asked if I had won. It is a hard feeling to describe.”

Bradley started the bout slowly but had lots of support from the crowd.

“I felt slow in the first two rounds,” she said.

“I was not fighting like should have because of the occasion.

“The crowd watching on, knowing you are fighting for a title, all added to it. It can be harder to stay composed.

“In the first round I was not fast enough with my movement and I waited too long in-between shots.

“After getting caught with silly shots towards the end of the second round Carl told me to sharpen up.”

The advice from her trainer clearly helped the 30-year-old fighter, who went on to dominate the rest of the fight.

Bradley’s third round performance knocked her title rival Mashauri and the Newark fighter went on to claim the next three rounds convincingly.

However, Bradley admitted she dropped her intensity in the sixth round, but that sparked a big response in the seventh.

“If that round had gone on for another 20 seconds, I think the referee would have jumped in.

“I had her on the rope and I could hear the screams from the crowd. I knew I had done well.

“It drove me on and the crowd chanting my name sounded amazing.

“I had the edge on her at the end of every round and she only had 30 good seconds in her,” said Bradley.

After the impressive title showing, Bradley said she would welcome a new challenge.

“Carl will sort out my next opponent. He knows what he is doing.

“I might have to defend my belt or I might find myself competing for the world title belt, but either way I will still be training.

“I want to be more elusive with my shots and my movement. Instead of throwing everything into my punches, I want to let my punches flow.”

Newark light-heavyweight Olly Marple also came through a tough test against Raimonds Sneidze on the bill in Leicester.

Marple, who is also trained by Greaves, won 40-36.