Belfast's Neil Sinclair defeated Welsh challenger Bradley Pryce to retain his British welterweight title at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday night.

Sinclair wrapped up his third defence when the referee stopped the fight in the eighth round.

Sinclair, though, was expected to stop the 21-year-old from Newbridge earlier in the fight.

But in the end a more mature Sinclair saw his patience pay off as he now takes permanent custody of a Lonsdale belt for his troubles.

It's as tough a challenge that I have had in a long, long time Neil Sinclair

Sinclair, though, was not happy with the way he fought.

''To be honest I don't think it was a great performance,'' said Sinclair.

''I did what I had to do on a very emotional night. I think I tried to hard to finish him when I had him reeling.

''But to be honest, Bradley was as game as they come, and I have to take my hat off to him.

''It's as tough a challenge that I have had in a long, long time.

''I will look to another world title bid, but if I never win another fight, at least they can't take the Lonsdale belt away from me.''

Unleashed

Sinclair was first into his rhythm in the opening round with his left jab regularly finding its range.

But beanpole Pryce warmed up in the second round with a series of rights which caught Sinclair who ohad trouble fending a good counter-offensive.

Sinclair, however, was not too unperturbed and he bided his time in to mixing his tactics.

Sinclair came out for the third round with blood over his left eye, but a series of swinging lefts to head and body slowed down the lively Price.

Sinclair catches Pryce at the end of the fight

Everything then all turned sour for the Welsh challenger in the fifth round when Sinclair dismantled Pryce's composure with two rattling shots to the head.

Despite wobbling and wearing a very pained smile, Pryce battled on to survive as Sinclair went for the kill.

Pryce did more than survive when in the next two rounds as he found his form again.

But early in the eighth, Sinclair unleashed a beautiful short left which put Pryce on the seat of his pants.

That signalled the end as a flurry of punches saw referee Mark Green stepping in to stop the contest.