JOHN Wayne Hibbert admits he may only have “two or three fights left in him” after a final round stoppage against Tommy Martin ensured he retained his Commonwealth super-lightweight title.

The Horndon-on-the-Hill fighter defeated Martin at London’s Copper Box Arena in a thrilling contest.

Hibbert controlled the majority of the early rounds, before 21-year-old Martin fought back with some powerful blows.

But Hibbert, who was ahead on all three judges’ cards, said he showed what champions are made of to dig in and floor Martin in the 12th round and end his unbeaten record, in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

“It was a fantastic result,” said Hibbert, 31. “I am hopeful it can open a few doors for me as people have been ranting and raving about Tommy Martin being a future world champion, so what I did was all credit to me and the team.

“Tommy started the fight quite well. A lot of people had said he was a boy in the run up to the fight and maybe he wanted to prove them wrong with a fast start. I came back and some of my shots and combinations were good.

“I thought I controlled the first five rounds, although the sixth was tight and he came back into it in the seventh and eighth. He had some good shots, but that is when you need to show your mental toughness and that is what champions are made of.

“I knew I was up on points heading into the final round but I was confident I could stop him. He was hurting and I had more energy left in the tank.”

Hibbert said he thoroughly enjoyed his first appearance at the Copper Box, but said he would be taking time to recover before thinking about his next fight.

He said on Saturday that he would give his good friend Martin a re-match, after the Cambridgeshire man missed the count after he was knocked to the floor in the final round, but Hibbert admits he needs to look at the bigger picture as he enters the twilight of his career.

“Some fighters might be looking for an easier fight but I am not like that,” said Hibbert.

“My body is in bits at the moment but I don’t want to stand off. I am coming to the end of a good career now and may only have two or three fights lefts in me so I need to be sensible.

“I think the referee made the right decision to stop the fight,” he added. “Tommy was never going to win and there were still two minutes left in the round. When you are down you have to focus on the referee and he wasn’t, but I have no doubt he will come back.

“We are friends and it was difficult in the run up as his preparation was very religious and he is not one to be nasty. But I had to not like him, and that is how I work even though we are friends. So I was pleased when the referee stopped the fight as I didn’t want him to take more punishment.

“It was different fight to the Dave Ryan ones as he is more physical and stronger but I was in very good shape. My nutrition and diet was bang on and the training worked perfectly.

“I will recover and then move forward.”