Lockett was in devastating form against Eastman

The 29-year-old Cwmbran man claimed the vacant belt in Newport on Saturday with a stunning first-round knockout of late stand-in Gilbert Eastman.

With a record of 27-1 (19 KOs) he now feels that the world is at his feet.

"I'm rated seven by the WBO and feel I can be a genuine world top-10 fighter at my weight with the punching class to take out anyone," said the Welshman.

Lockett wins WBU title

"I'll sit down with my promoter to plan my next move, but obviously I'd like to fight Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes.

"He had to pull out from meeting me last week because of injury, but it's a big fight that makes itself.

A lot of stupid people have said I didn't carry my power up from light middleweight Gary Lockett

"I'm the puncher and he thinks he's the boxer, but on my form against Eastman no-one can live with me."

The man known as the 'Pocket Rocket' admitted to expecting a tougher night against Eastman.

"I'd had a great eight-week training camp and I was going to ease myself in to the fight," he said.

"It was drilled into me to box, but the right hand over the jab counter came naturally and with power like mine it only takes half a shot.

"A lot of stupid people have said I didn't carry my power up from light middleweight, but I've been hampered by illnesses in recent fights.

"Eastman didn't feel it should have been stopped. I don't want to argue with him, he seems a nice man, but I just told him to look at the tape, he'll see it was the right decision."