Saperstein lines up British title challenge

Laura Saperstein is targeting a crack at the British featherweight title after defeating Bulgarian Borislava Goranova at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Saperstein had been frustrated after several opponents dropped out but she had no problems extending her unbeaten professional record to 10 after the six round contest.

"I started preparing for someone a lot taller and heavier followed by someone lighter and shorter," said Saperstein. "For once, I'd been struggling with my weight and in the end it became really stressful."

A hastily arranged bout saw Saperstein beat the same fighter she lined up against in her first pro fight. "Borislava had fought in Switzerland a week before at 67 kgs. She stayed with me in the build-up to the fight. She wanted to watch the World Cup while I went out for a run. We're best mates outside of the ring and went for dinner afterwards."

Saperstein was full of praise for new coach Paul Webb. "He did a fantastic job with me at the gym in Birmingham. It's the best I felt during a fight. I'm a very different boxer now. "Borislava is a very experienced customer. She might have given away a few pounds but I knew that I wasn't going to knock her out. I boxed quite technically."