John Simpson became the British Featherweight champion at the third attempt by stopping Andy Morris in the fifth round of their title bout at the ExCel Arena in London last night.

The Greenock boxer should have been crowned champion two years ago when he clearly outpointed the then champ, Dazzo Williams, only to see the referee award the fight to the hometown boxer. A decision that quickly led to judges being brought in for all British title fights.

And this was his second attempt at taking the title from Andy Morris, who outpointed Simpson over 12 rounds in Glasgow in November, 2005. On that occasion, a bout of flu had hampered Simpson’s preparations and it was clear for all to see that he didn’t look his best that night.

And so on to the ExCel where defeat for Simpson was not an option for someone with the desire and talent to top the Featherweight division at domestic level and maybe beyond.

As expected, Morris dominated the early rounds, rocking the Scot in the second with a right hook. But by the end of the third however, Simpson had weathered the early storm and in the fourth he was starting to come into the fight, fighting fire with fire and showing that the Englishman didn’t have the monopoly on fast hands or accuracy.

Indeed, no sooner had Simpson shown signs of coming back into the fight that he caught Morris with a right hook that opened up a nasty cut over the champion’s left eye. The champion’s corner did their best to stem the flow of blood, but it was like the proverbial red rag to the bull in the fifth as Simpson stepped up a gear in the fifth to target the cut and land combinations against Morris who was beginning to flounder.

With the cut only getting worse and Morris struggling to compete, referee John Keane stepped in and stopped the contest after two and a half minutes of the fifth. At first Simpson did not realise he had won the fight, but he was soon celebrating a victory that means the Lonsdale belt finally makes its way to his home in Greenock.

It was Andy Morris‘ first defeat as a professional and no doubt there will be a rubber match between the two boxers, hopefully as a top of the bill contest in Scotland and not buried half way down an English promotion.

But for now there’s time for John Simpson to savour the victory that will hopefully spell a new era for Scottish boxing at Featherweight in the same week that Scott Harrison relinquished his world title at this very weight. And a victory that Simpson dedicated to Scott in a much welcomed show of solidarity with his friend and fellow countryman.

Exciting times lie ahead for Simpson who is still only 23 and who is one of the most technically gifted boxers in the UK today. There’s the potential third fight against Morris, there’s the chance to avenge the defeat against Stephen Foster Jr, Derry Matthews may well be willing to give up his WBU title for a crack at the British title and then there’s Jackson Asiku, the Commonwealth champ who has stopped his last two English challengers in just one round.