Martin still has the Power

Martin Power began his pugilistic life with 19 straight wins but that winning feeling had recently been replaced with a losing streak of six reverses in his last eight bouts.

A late withdrawal of Ashley Sexton opened the door for Francis Croes and with a single win in 14, Power’s Saturday night in Brentwood was made somewhat easier.

Power (8st 6lbs 12oz), a former British bantamweight champion, has fought at top domestic level since 2005 but this outing served as little more than a simple confidence booster.

The St. Pancras man quickly got his jab popping out and doubling that up with combinations to head and body. Croes (8st 5lbs) was in survival mode as he assumed a high guard, but Power continued throughout by throwing uppercuts and solid body shots.

It was one way traffic, with every Power move cheered on by his noisy followers, and by the end of round three concerned referee Richie Davies was in Croes' corner asserting a change in fortunes or a pull out.

But the action continued in similar fashion with Power looking to finish it and Croes, with his mouth now open, bore the countenance of one who had had enough.

The one paced and one dimensional match was called to halt at 1:57 of the fifth round as Power connected several times and put the pressure on.

Power, a popular poster on BoxRec's British forum, is now 22-6 and despite being 30 years old can still be in the domestic mix up for several years.

Furthermore, when the ever improving European and Commonwealth champion Jamie McDonnell steps up to world level a shot at the Commonwealth belt may not be light years away.

Whether or not the poular Londoner can bag another domestic belt belt remains to be seen.

One thing is certain Croes  done nothing to answer that question.