Downpatrick’s Marty Kayes had a first licensed professional victory at the weekend at the Devenish Venue.

It was a battle of little versus large at the Belfast venue.

Kayes’s opponent, Belfast man Phil Townley, had formerly fought at light heavyweight, and looked like a monster on the scales. Kayes on the other hand is usually a welterweight and, always the joker, was able to eat a McDonald’s during the weigh-in.

The pair met at middleweight on the Malta Boxing Commission-organised show, and 39 year old Kayes unanimously outpointed his 35 year old opponent over eight rounds to score a big upset.

Kayes has had over 200 unlicensed bouts on the semi-pro Independent Boxing Association circuit, and used this to his advantage to cleverly outscore and negate the aggressive Townley in a battle of the journeymen.

Crafty Kayes was able to show how good he can be when he is able to prepare fully, and the popular, crowd-pleasing fighter was overjoyed when the scorecard was read out.

The only of the three scorecards to be read out gave Kayes every round and an 80-72 win, although the two unannounced cards were somewhat closer and a fairer reflection of the bout.

Townley was incensed after the bout, feeling that he clearly won the fight, but most would agree that Kayes was a deserved winner.

Kayes has now finally lost his 0, and his professional record now reads 1(0)-17(3), while Townley falls to 1(0)-11(2).