AN OSWESTRY boxer returned to the ring with a bang on the weekend after a year-long lay-off.

Former Midlands heavyweight boxing champion Bobby Sudlow returned to action at a show in Shrewsbury on the weekend where he put in a strong performance to overcome opponent Kev Hall in the second round.

Sudlow’s power proved too much for the Stoke-based fighter who had to fight on the defensive for much of the first-round, before Sudlow landed a flush southpaw back hand on the jaw of Hall to put him down for the count.

The Oswestry boxer has made it five wins on the bounce now, with four of his wins coming inside the distance.

Sudlow said he took inspiration from former world champion Tyson Fury as he headed into the fight.

“I’d been watching Fury before my fight,” he said.

“I paid close attention to how well he uses his own movement to influence what his opponent does.

“He feints very well to open his opponents up – I tried some of his moves out there and they seemed to work well.”

The former champ has a taste for success after his recent bout and said a shot at the English title could be his next goal.