DROITWICH Amateur Boxing Club power-puncher Michael ‘Buller’ Pardoe won the Midland Counties ACA welterweight title in explosive style.

The 25-year-old stopped Lincoln’s Darryl Baptiste in the second round in Bedworth.

Pardoe dominated the first round, driving in jabs and following with crunching body shots.

At close quarters, his astute use of uppercuts had Baptiste in trouble forcing the referee to give him a standing count.

Pardoe’s opponent rallied in the early part of the second round but Pardoe soon began to dominate again as his powerful punches found the mark and the referee stopped the contest after one minute as Pardoe once more threatened to break loose.

“As a schoolboy Michael twice won Midland Counties titles, both times going on to reach the national finals, and on the second occasion in 2001 becoming the national schoolboy champion,” said club coach Chris Andrews.

“Since then, despite repeated attempts, he has been unable to reproduce that form in championships — until now, when he has turned in riveting performances in both the semis and the finals to claim Midlands honours again.

“I have seldom seen a more one-sided opening round than the one against Baptiste, a boxer who has previously beaten Michael twice and who is himself a past Midlands senior champion.

“We are all delighted for ‘Buller’ who is well-liked and admired throughout amateur boxing and is a true ambassador for the sport.”

Pardoe will box in the national quarter-finals in Scunthorpe on Saturday, March 25.