Duane Winters claims Southern Area super-bantamweight title with a points win over Martin Hillman
The 'Gasman' adds Southern Area strap to the International Challenge belt he won last February
Three wins and two titles in the bag for Winters since signing with new manager Andy O'Kane
Third loss in Southern Area championship contest for Hillman
It was heartbreak for Hillman (10-6) as he failed to capture the Southern area belt on his third attempt, losing out by one single point to Bristol's Diane Winters (10-1) at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bristol.
Sidcup's 'Pie and Mash Kid' has previously challenged for the Southern Area title at super-featherweight inn 2016 against Boy Jones Jr, losing widely on points, and then to Jamie Speight at featherweight in 2017, stopped in the final round due to a head swelling.
His latest attempt in the away corner was his closest yet to capturing the elusive crown. His trainer, Ray Askew, commented on Facebook after the fight, "Gutted for Martin Hillman last night! General consensus was that he won by at least a round but the ref scored it that he lost by a round. It was an absolute barnstormer of a fight, the kind we have excepted as normal for this true warrior! Once again Martin left the building with the respect of every person in attendance and Team Invicta couldn't be prouder."
It's Hillman's sixth professional defeat and first time he has ever suffered back to back losses in his five-year career. Hillman went to war with stablemate Tom McGinley last February at Mote Hall, Maidstone, losing 75-77 on points to the Chelmsford boxer in a barnstormer of a fight with the British Challenge featherweight belt on the line.
The 27-year-old is already plotting his ring return, slated to fight next on October 6 at Mote Hall on a JE Promotions event.