Leon ''Solid'' Williams upset defending champion Rob Norton to win the British cruiserweight title with a controversial twelve round split decision at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Friday night. Williams won by scores of 116-113 and 116-114 on two ringside judges scorecards, with the third judge calling it 115-114 for Norton. Former Commonwealth champ Norton had held the British cruiserweight  title since 2008, and was unbeaten in four years. The fight was shown live on BoxNation (Sky channel 456).

39 year old southpaw Norton (32-5-2, 19 KO's), an eighteen year pro veteran, dominated the first six rounds with his awkward style. A rangy 6' 2'', Norton controlled the center of the ring - hands low - avoiding Williams´ blows with body movement a-la Vitali Klitschko. Unlike big Vitali, Norton lacks world class punching power, but was nevertheless accurate with his shots, and he may well have swept the first six rounds. Norton was seldom more adventurous than employing a simple one-two right jab left cross combination, but against an opponent who was clearly looking to land his right hand 'Sunday' punch, it was effective. 

In the second half of the fight, 27 year old Williams (9-3, 4 KO's) finally began putting his punches together. He upped his work rate, and applied steady pressure to the defending champion. Norton found it hard to turn the tide back in his favour, and by the twelfth round looked out on his feet. Williams tried for the stoppage, but to his credit Norton fought desperately hard to take it to the scorecards. 

The result in favour of Williams was controversial, although in fairness Norton´s negativity may have score against him in several of the early rounds. Williams wasn't always effective, but he was the aggressor throughout. Williams had gone into the fight as the bookies underdog, and ranked only 9th in Britain according to Boxing News magazine. 

Despite his so-so record and inexperience, Williams has the potential to be a good champion. His win over Norton should put him into the E.B.U rankings, and there are plenty of domestic cruiserweight fights against the likes of Ola Afolabi, Herbie Hide, Terry Dunstan, Matty Askin, Dave Dolan and even a rematch with Norton to be made. 

As Williams told BoxNation ''I'm fit, strong and I am British champion now.''