Lenny "Lightning" Daws is setting his hopes for a rematch with European light-welterweight champion Michele Di Rocco after being crowned EBU EU light-welterweight champion on Saturday night.

Carshalton-born Daws beat Frenchman Chaquib Fadli at The Glow, Bluewater, to reclaim the title he vacated last year for his shot at Di Rocco.

The 35-year-old, who was cut on the left eyebrow following a head clash in round eight, claimed a 10th round technical stoppage after a weary looking Fadli went down for the second time prompting referee Luigi Muratore to halt this lively but incident packed bout.

The decision did not go down well with Fadli, from Clermont-Ferrand, who had two points deducted following the illegal use of his head, and afterwards remonstrated his anger with the referee and his cornermen.

But Daws, who has now won 29 of his 34 outings, agreed with the referee’s decision.

He said: “Fadli kicked off towards the end as he wasn’t happy with the decision,” said the Rose Hill Amateur Boxing Club fighter.

“He was hurt, I become champion and we move on from here.

“We didn’t know much about him so we had to suss him out round by round. Once we’ve had a look at him, we tried to get into a rhythm but unfortunately I got the head clash come in.

“We were both badly cut. It threw my rhythm out a little bit but I hurt him bad."

He added: "He was a frustrating fighter. He wanted me to come in while he was doing all that tricky stuff – that was his game plan.

"But it was down to patience and I got him at the end. So it was definitely a good win and it pushes me on to bigger things.”

Daws is now banking on his promoter Mick Hennessy to get him a rematch with Italy’s Di Rocco.

Since scoring a controversial decision over Daws back in June, the 32-year-old, has twice defended his European mantle with the latest last month against Ruben Nieto in Madrid, Spain.

Daws said: “The plan now is to get the rematch with Michele Di Rocco. I’ve got the junior European belt so now I want to move on to the full belt.

“It’s down to him and what he does. He may have a voluntary, I don’t know what he’s got next so we’ve just got to sit down with my promoter Mick Hennessy and see what can be made.

“That’s got to put me in position for that rematch so it’s got to happen, hopefully Mick can do it and bring the fight over here.”