HE WEARS the word CONQUEROR on the waistband of his shorts and the man from Dagenham certainly came and slayed the local hero.

And the coach of Tony Conquest reckons his man will become the next ABA national cruiserweight champion.

After Saturday’s showing in front of 800 fans in the Sir John Loveridge Hall, I would not bet against it.

Jennings boxed probably his best ever fight over four two-minute rounds, but came up short against a highly skilful and forever moving target.

It surprised many, not least Conquest’s coach, Jimmy Bush, that one of the three ringside judges saw to award the fight to the Guernseyman.

No less an expert than Matt Walsh, the island’s best modern-day fighter who went on to represent England, reckoned Jennings had gone close to winning it and said he’d never seen the local man perform better.

The judges saw it 25-21 Conquest, 13-12 Jennings and 17-15 the Englishman, so indeed it was tight, the verdict of the defeated man.

‘It was a close fight and he even said to me at the end that it could go either way,’ said Jennings later.

‘I need more fights like that to sharpen me up,’ said an obviously disappointed local favourite.

‘He was classy and had good variety.’

• Pictures by Tom Tardif. Copies may be obtained from our photo orders section.

Local favourite Matt Jennings gets on the end of a straight left from Tony Conquest.