Gareth Gardner produced the performance of his life last weekend to retain his Queensbury British middleweight title in emphatic fashion.

Making the first defence of his title in the main event of the competition's 2014 season finale against unbeaten challenger Kieran Leinster, the Croydon crowd pleaser lived up to all the pre-fight hype putting on a master class of boxing to emerge with a unanimous points decision at the end of an historic evening.

From the opening round of the fight Gardner set a terrific pace landing flurries of spiteful looking punches that reddened the face of the advancing challenger, and it appeared Leinster could find no answers to the avalanche of leather he was being forced to consume in the opening minutes.

To the challenger's credit he kept pushing forward despite the pressure the champion was putting on him and towards the end of the first landed a hurtful looking overhand right that got the champions attention.

As the fight progressed Gardner continued to assert his dominance getting the last word in the majority of the exchanges with sharp combinations, and although he was winning the rounds Leinster was still a potent threat as when he did find success the power was clearly evident giving Gardner plenty to still think about.

As the fight entered the final round it was clear that only a stoppage would ensure the challengers unbeaten record would last until Christmas, but even when the champion was clearly tiring after putting in a tremendous work rate it was not to be for the young prospect with Gardner seeing it out to the final bell spurred on by the roar of a capacity crowd.

Talking directly after his most exciting win in the competition the champion said: “I take my hat off to Kieran Leinster as before the fight I did not think he was ready for this level of fight, but he brought his best to me and it brought out the best in me.

“It was a tough fight and I knew coming into this showdown he thought I was going to target the body as that’s what I’m known for, but I’ve proved tonight I’m a dangerous head puncher as well and he was rocked a few times during that fight.

“People say I’m getting older now but I’m going to be around for a while and I’m looking forward to a rest now, but I will be back in action next season and we’ll just have to wait to see who they put in front of me.