Bristol’s long wait for a British boxing champion is finally over as Lee Haskins followed in the illustrious footsteps of Ross Hale and Glenn Catley on a glorious night in Lancashire.

The 24-year-old from Lockleaze produced a performance full of skill and character to earn a unanimous decision over champion Andy Bell and bring the British super flyweight title back to his home city.

Not since Catley beat Neville Brown to win the British middleweight crown in 1998 has Bristol boasted a Lonsdale Belt holder.

Overcome by emotion after hearing the 116-113, 116-113, 115-114 verdict, Haskins said: “I can’t put it into words what it means to me.

“The British title is the biggest thing there is on the domestic scene and I feel so proud. This is a great night for me and for Bristol.”

Still unbeaten as a flyweight – the 24-year-old Lockleaze boxer’s only two defeats have come at bantamweight – Haskins proved a point to himself as well as his critics.

Bleeding from the nose and cut over his left eye, Haskins declared: “I showed I had the stomach for the fight. I put my trust in my training and never felt in any trouble.

“It wasn’t a pretty fight, but I thought I boxed well and got my jab going from the fourth round onwards. I was able to relax after that, because I knew I was ahead and in control.”

Delighted manager, Chris Sanigar, said: “We asked Lee to be a man and he was. He could have made the fight easier for himself had he stood his ground more, but it went more or less to plan and I’m delighted for him.

“It’s about time we had another British champion in Bristol.”

Both fighters visited the canvas as the opening two rounds resembled a wrestling match and referee Phil Everett issued the pair with a stern warning before the start of the third.

Southpaw Haskins was the first to settle, working behind his jab and catching the champion with crisp counters thrown from unorthodox angles. Bell seemed at a loss as to how to deal with the Bristolian and resorted to lunging attacks.

The biggest threat to Haskins came from the clash of heads which left him with blood pouring from his nose at the end of the fourth round and then from a nick to one side of his left eye when the pair came together in the next session.

But the challenger’s corner dealt with the problem and Haskins moved up a gear in the sixth, throwing the cleaner shots to establish a clear lead at halfway.

Bell displayed the heart of a lion when wrenching the title from Chris Edwards in March and summoned renewed energy to make the running in the seventh and eighth, pressuring his opponent into mistakes and backing him up against the ropes.

It was now becoming a test of endurance and both fighters stood and traded punches as the mercury rose in the tenth. But the champion had more in the tank and pursued Haskins during the closing stages, cutting down the angles and engaging the challenger at close quarters.

In the end, it was not enough and the Lonsdale Belt deservedly changed hands, giving Sanigar's Bristol Boys stable their fifth British champion in 14 years.