YORK boxer Cam Shaw hailed his professional debut as a “perfect night” after securing victory for the first time in the paid ranks.

Shaw secured a 40-36 points victory over Sweden-born veteran Edward Bjorklund, winning all of the four scheduled rounds at Rotherham’s Magna Centre as part of the undercard to Terri Harper’s world title win over Nozipho Bell.

Having won domestic honours and represented his country as an amateur, Shaw exhibited his elusive counter-punching style in the opening rounds, landing well to the body and rarely taking a shot.

By the third, the debutant opened himself up more to incoming shots from Bjorklund, though it seemed to pay off when a cross right sent the Swede to the canvas, though the referee ruled it as a trip.

Despite that, the 21-year-old finished strongly to take a clear decision victory.

Shaw says he was delighted with his night’s work while also admitting that there were some nerves as he aimed to please those that had travelled to South Yorkshire to support him.

“This was just what I needed for my debut as a professional,” Shaw told The Press. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more, winning convincingly on my debut on the undercard to a world title fight.

“It was an electrifying night and an awesome experience. Tonight was a perfect night.

“The whole experience was just awesome and was really next level from where I’ve boxed before. I’ve won regional titles as an amateur and I’ve boxed abroad as well.

“But, that feeling of winning on my professional debut - nothing comes close to that.

“There was a little bit of nerves in there to be honest. Maybe apprehension is a better way of phrasing it.

“And I think that came from wanting to put in a good performance for the fans that have bought tickets from me.

“I didn’t want to go in there and put in a boring display, I wanted to excite the crowd. When you’re in that ring, you want to give back to those that have paid to watch you.

“We’re in the entertainment business and that’s what it’s all about. But once I got in that ring, I stayed relaxed, cool and collected."

Although he won every round, Shaw was unfortunate not to have won by a wider margin after knocking down Bjorklund with a cross right hand in the third, though it was called as a slip by the referee.

“I settled down onto my shots and in the third, I thought that I’d got the reward with the knockdown,” said Shaw.

“There was no count given, which was a shame, because I thought clipped him, and my coach and second thought that I had as well.

“But, the referee didn’t see it that way and I carried on and still won that round. I wasn’t going out there just to look for the knockout.

“I wanted to put in a nice all-round boxing display while getting the rounds in, which I managed to do.”

The featherweight wasn’t faultless in victory though, conceding multiple shots in the later rounds, a point upon which he admits there’s room for improvement for.

“My opponent knew his ring-craft and knew how to defend and counter, so it wasn’t easy by any means,” added Shaw.

“He did catch me a couple of times, but there wasn’t any particularly hurtful shots. The majority of times in the fight, I was making him miss and maybe I was guilty of not making him pay for it with counters.

“There’s things to work on for sure and I’ll be looking to show that during my upcoming fights. But, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

“He wasn’t a pushover by any means, he came to fight and that was exactly what I needed.”