GORBALS fighter Joe Ham told last night how he had maintained his focus on a perfect eighth professional win despite an eye infection which was so severe that he had to wear shades to the pre-fight press conference.

Despite being forced to an eight count when he lost his footing in the final round of his six-round contest against Birmingham's Paul Holt, Ham was a deserved winner on points in what was his first six round contest.

Scheduled to go that far on three other occasions, he has been so efficient in his boxing that he has knocked his opponent out early.

"My left eye was so swollen last Tuesday I could hardly see out of it," said Ham. "I have been up at Gartnavel, and on antibiotics, I've had two weeks of disaster basically, but I had sold 300-odd tickets so I couldn't let people down.

"I kept it to myself, apart from my manager and my mates at the gym. There were no excuses. Even on Tuesday at the press conference I wore sunglasses because I didn't want anyone to see it, because I knew people would start talking.

"But it was all good, I got the win and now I go to Ibiza with my pals on Wednesday."

Elsewhere on the undercard, Ham's 2014 team-mate Charlie Flynn also recorded an eighth straight pro win, while Willie Limond's brave resistance in his British title fight with Tyrone Nurse came to an end in the ninth round. The 37-year-old said it was "looking like" he would now retire.