Croydon's Wayne Alexander lifted the world light-middleweight title with the name of his daughter who he had not seen for 10 weeks written on his belt.

The shy 31-year-old from Westcombe Avenue, stunned the boxing world on Friday night, by knocking out bitter-rival Takaloo. He went into the bout as underdog but delivered the perfect left-hook in round two to lift the World Boxing Union title in front of a packed York Hall, Bethnal Green.

The former Gonville Primary and Archbishop Lanfranc pupil, who started boxing at 11, spent 10 weeks away from his girlfriend Carly and two-year-old daughter Sade in Belfast, training for the fight.

Alexander told the Guardian: "All the sacrifices have been worth it. People in the boxing world wrote me off, but I always knew I would knock Takaloo out and prove I am the best light-middleweight in the country."

Girlfriend Carly said: "It has been hard, Sade hasn't seen him, I haven't seen him. But now we can go home with a belt - I am so proud of Wayne."

Full report: Sport