Chas Symonds wants a shot at the British title after claiming the southern area welterweight belt on Friday.

The 29-year-old kept his cool to beat Darryl Still on points at The Coronet Theatre in Elephant & Castle to regain the belt he first won in 2004.

But, after eight years as a professional, he does not want to stop there and is eyeing the winner of the British title fight between Junior Witter and Colin Lines on May 12 as his next big match.

“I have been a professional for eight years now and I think I deserve a shot for something big,” he said.

“It has been my dream to win a British title, which I will do if I get the opportunity to fight for it.

“I proved myself on Friday and boxed clever to beat Darryl on points.

“We had a game plan and I stayed off him.

“My trainer told me not to rush in as Darryl thought I was going to sit on top of him and throw punches, we knew he couldn’t think if I gave him space.

“I was over the moon as winning that title is like a world title to me.

“It is what I have pushed for and now I have finally got it.

“But I want a big fight now – Lee Purdy won a southern area title and then boxed for a Commonwealth one so it can be done.”