BOXER Frankie Monkhouse had to go the full distance to earn his latest win — despite leaving his opponent battered and bloodied after just 30 seconds.

The 29-year-old Greenock fighter notched up his fifth professional victory on Saturday against tough Slovakian Lubos Priehradnik in front of a sell-out crowd at the York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Frankie earned another impressive points victory, winning each of the six rounds on the judges’ scorecards.

But the contest was nearly over after just 30 seconds in the first when the former Quarrier Street resident landed a huge hammer-blow on his 34-year-old opponent, which left him with a gash on his head and covered in blood.

Despite that, Priehradnik battled on much to the surprise of Greenock man Frankie and the 100-strong band of supporters from Inverclyde who made the trip to see him in action.

He told the Tele: “I had the big crowd behind me and started really fast.

“I staggered him in the first 30 seconds of the fight with a right hook that opened a deep cut on his head — but there was no knockdown!

“After that I thought there was no way he’d come out in the second but he did — he’s a tough boy. My trainer Alec Wilkey was telling me in the run-up and in between rounds not to tire myself out by loading up on shots so I went back to my boxing and didn’t lose a round.” Frankie’s cool head and inch-perfect game-plan eventually earned him another win but he admits it wasn’t all plain-sailing in his first six-round fight.

He said: “It was a tough fight.

“He caught me with one good punch and I knew he was dangerous so I had to box him.

“I knew after smashing him in the first round and he didn’t go down that I was hitting a brick wall.

“It was a really good test for me and I’m doing well but I’m still a novice — that was only my sixth fight.” He now hopes to continue his good form and maybe land a big fight back home in Scotland for his fans in Inverclyde. Frankie said: “Alex Morrison said he would get me a fight in Scotland so hopefully that can happen and I can get back up the road.

“I’m not in any rush because there’s big shows in London but if they offered me a fight in Scotland I would jump at the chance.

“About 100 people came down from Greenock on Saturday.

“They know I’m improving and that I put in 110 per cent every time, I box with my heart on my sleeve and they get value for money.” l Frankie would like to thank his sponsor, sports betting community OLBG.COM