Matty Fagan reckons two knockdowns in his win last weekend prove focusing on strength and conditioning has made a difference.

Ellesmere Port native Fagan sent Ismail Anwar crashing  to the canvas twice in a comfortable 60-53 points win at the Olympia in Liverpool on Saturday night.

Chester-born Fagan and training partner Paul Butler have been working with No Limits Strength and Conditioning centre in Liverpool, and the 26-year-old feels the extra work has paid off.

He said: “I definitely felt more powerful in the ring and it’s making a massive difference.

“One  of the knockdowns sent the lad out of the ring and I found out afterwards he landed on one of the cameraman and injured him.”

Fagan had a successful amateur career with Vauxhall Motors ABC, winning a host of honours including national titles.

He turned professional in late 2012 and is unbeaten in six contests.

Like his close friend Butler, Fagan has signed with promoter Frank Warren and trains with Anthony ‘Arnie’ Farnell in Manchester.

Fagan believes Huddersfield-based Anwar, who had won four fights from seven, was his toughest opponent to date.

He said: “He surprised me a little bit because his record was patchy but he came to fight.

“He said to me afterwards that his coach had told him that he had to win or he was going to split from him.

“He laid it all on the line and at the end he said his coach told him he was going to stick with him because he was happy.

“It was definitely a step up for me because the lad was no journeyman and he came to win.

“That’s great for me and I think I will get better as the opponents get better.

 “I can be a bit bone idle in the ring but when I’m in with someone who’s not an Average Joe then I can step it up a level.”

Fagan will have an operation on his nose on Monday but is hoping to be back in the ring in July or August, when he will move up to eight rounds for the first time.

Longer term his plan is to drop down to super featherweight and go after the British title.

Fagan said: “Everyone has told me I can do the weight and I think I can, especially now that my diet and my training have been sorted out.

“I normally take a week off after a fight but from now on I’m only going to take a week off from boxing.

“I’ll still be in the gym and keeping things ticking over.”