Kingston’s Danny Parsons is gearing up for a big 2013 after retaining his Queensbury Boxing League southern area lightweight title in convincing fashion on Saturday night.
 

The 18-year-old beat Tony Clemmey with a unanimous points decision in the penultimate fight of the Edge of Greatness show in West Sussex – the climax to the Queensbury Boxing League season.
 

And Parsons, who fought off the effects of a stomach bug to step in the ring, is hoping the first defence of his crown will lead to bigger and better things come the new year.
 

“It wasn’t my best performance but a win is a win as they say,” he said.
 

“I was just really pleased to get that first defence out of the way really, because it would have been really disappointing to have lost the belt having only just won it.
 

“I would have preferred to have boxed a bit better, but I felt comfortable from the start and I knew I’d win.
 

“I’ll fight again early next year and defend the belt a couple of times.  There are a few other belts I want to win, so it is going to be a big year for me hopefully.”
 

Parsons, who usually boxes as a featherweight, was struck down by illness ahead of Saturday’s fight at the Effingham Park Hotel in Copthorne and lost between four and five pounds in weight before stepping in the ring.
 

He had not shrugged off the effects until Tuesday this week and admitted he had been running on empty at the weekend.
 

“I’ve never fought at that venue before. It is a big place and the crowd was amazing,” he added.
 

“I hadn’t felt great all week and I was still ill on the night of the fight. In my dressing room I was laid out on the bench when usually I’m bouncing off the walls.
 

“But I’m not one to pull out of a fight.  I didn’t do as well as I could have done, but if I’d been 100 per cent I think I would have won more comfortably.
 

“I’ll take a unanimous points decision though and I’ll look to build on that.”