LAUNCESTON Amateur Boxing club’s ’Lightning Bandit’, Marcus Hodgson, made the transition from the amateurs to the professional ranks in good style at Plymouth’s Guildhall on Saturday, July 30.

Marcus faced 64-fight veteran Anwar Alfadli from Sheffield, in his debut appearance.

Anwar, with his self-proclaimed ’Naseem Hamed’ style of boxing, proved to be very awkward and dangerous, but Marcus found a superb right cross to send his opponent to the floor during the first round.

Anwar, showing the toughness which has seen him only get knocked out four times, weathered the early storm from the Launceston fighter and battled hard to try and get himself back in the fight during the second and third rounds. But Marcus turned up the heat in the last round to secure his first win as a professional fighter, winning all four rounds to win 40-36.

Marcus will be next in action on Saturday, October 29 in Plymouth.

Fellow Launceston boxer, Wes Smith, is scheduled to make his professional debut on the same night.