YORK boxer Michael Fafera has explained how focused mindset during training aided his fifth victory as a professional.

Fafera boxed to a strong game plan at the Elland Road Pavilion, resisting the temptation to be drawn into a brawl and winning a 40-37 verdict over Darryl Sharp, a former Central Area champion.

It marks a fifth victory for the light heavyweight, a day and a year since making his professional debut.

A series of injuries led to the show he was scheduled to fight on show in July being cancelled, meaning Fafera had been in training since May for Friday night's contest.

He believes that his focus and drive was factors in coming through that to stay composed during the fight.

"I'm happy that I've out-smarted him, out-boxed him and I caught him with some good shots as well," Fafera said of the victory.

"I know I've stopped other opponents early in the fights, but I wasn't looking for a first or a second round stoppage, because I knew that he can take a shot.

"I'd watched some of his previous fights and I knew that he could take a shot.

"I had an extra long camp for this fight as my fight in July was called off.

"I've been in the gym since March. A few things have gone wrong behind the scenes, but I pushed through it.

"I believe that if you stay focused then you can achieve anything you want. I've been focused for several months and it's paid off with the win tonight.

"Now, I'm going to have a few days off and chill out.

"I'm not falling off the wagon by any means.

"They only way is up from here. I believe that if I can stay at this level, then I'll only continue to improve."

Fafera made a strong start to the fight and was clearly looking to showcase his boxing skills by sticking behind the jab, before a short toe-to-toe exchange in the first round's final seconds.

The 24-year-old hadn't boxed since May and was evidently enjoying being in there, smiling throughout the second period as he displayed some showboating to his travelling section of fans.

Sharp's movement had lessened by the third with Fafera able to pin him in the corner on a couple of occasions, though the Manchester man's tight guard prevented Fafera causing any telling damage.

In the final round, Fafera took a few shots himself for the first time, though he still remained the dominant aggressor.

Previous bouts have seen Fafera drawn into a scrap, something he keen not to have a repeat of, particularly against the teak-tough Sharp, who's been stopped just once in 65 fights.

"I felt really relaxed in there, from the start of the fight, to the end.

"I knew that he was tough and the main thing that I wanted to do throughout the fight was to not get drawn into a scrap.

"I know that I'm a better boxer than him and I know that he's a very tough fighter, so I had to make sure I wasn't drawn in.

"It would have been stupid for me to stand toe to toe with him and trade punches with him, when I know that I don't have to do that.

"I kept him at the end of my jab all night.

"He tried to make me annoyed by pushing me at times, but I kept my cool.

"I felt like it was a mind-game as much as it was a boxing bout."