DARREN Tetley reckons he has raised the bar after stretching his unbeaten start as a pro to seven fights.

The Holme Wood welterweight believes the latest victory was the best of his fledgling paid-for career – even if he thought the stoppage was harsh.

Tetley’s clash with Newark-based Fonz Alexander in Rotherham was brought to a premature halt when the referee stepped in near the end of the sixth and final round.

Tetley said: “There was only 40 seconds left and he deserved to finish because he’d put up a hell of a fight.

“I’m an honest lad and, if it was me, I’d have wanted to go to the end. But the ref decided he was taking too much punishment.

“But in my seven fights, I think that’s the best I’ve boxed so far in terms of my style, my jab and head movement. I was landing punches clean and not wasting anything.

“I’ve still got 1,000s of things to work on but I really do feel that I am starting to improve.”

Tetley, who walked to the Magna Centre ring to the strains of Bradford City anthem “Midland Road”, was fighting over six rounds for the first time.

He admitted it was another learning curve in pacing himself through a fight.

“I didn’t realise it was going to be as different as it was. Having those two extra rounds, I had to be careful not to get restless or too carried away.

“I realised early on I was a little bit faster and sharper than him but he could punch. I had to stay out of the way of his big punch with more movement and work off my jab.

“I tried to work the body and slow him down. But I had to be careful that he might be trying to kid me if I tried to steam in too soon.”

With the job done, Tetley still managed to get back to Bradford in time to support the Sedbergh amateur show.

“Peter Cannon did a cracking job and I’m glad I got there before the end. I’d like to say well done to all the lads.”