LOUGHTON-based boxer James DeGale won his first professional title with a fifth round stoppage of Sam Horton as part of an all-star line-up at Upton Park at the weekend.

Fighting on the undercard of Michael Katsidis' victory over Kevin Mitchell, DeGale, who trains at Loughton Academy's state-of-the-art gym, unleashed a series of devastating combinations to send his opponent reeling before the towel was eventually thrown in. The win allowed the 24-year-old to claim the previously vacant WBA international crown.

Horton was floored in the second round and was knocked to the canvas again in the fifth before the fight was brought to a stop.

Having extended his record to seven successive wins super-middleweight DeGale now has his sights set on a world title fight in the next two years. “I felt great in there and I'm glad Sam took me five rounds as I need them,” the Olympic gold medalist told the Sun.

“When I hit him and hurt him I thought, 'Let's get this done'.

“I'm a man on a mission and by the end of the year I want to be the British or Commonwealth champion.

“By the end of 2012 I want to be fighting for a world title.”