An associate at Cardiff firm HLN Architects has just become the unlicensed boxing British heavyweight champion – at the age of 46.

Senior architectural technician Stephen Franks picked up the title two weeks ago after knocking out his opponent, 31-year-old Mark Smith, in the second round at a fight in Weston-super-Mare.

It was Franks’ ninth fight in the sport which features a referee, a round system, gloves and the Queensberry rules – the difference being it is not governed by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Franks, who weighs 16.5 stone, said he fought in this version of the sport because his age precluded him from BBBC-sanctioned fights.

“I have been boxing since I was a child and represented Wales a number of times,” he said.

He turned professional at 40 after giving up playing rugby because of a leg injury and trains up to two hours every weekday as well at the weekends.

“I don’t take time off work,” he added. “Work has been very good. I suppose if I come in with a few cuts and bruises after a fight it’s a bit of a talking point.”

Franks is looking to defend his title in Swansea at the end of next month. He declined to say when he might hang up his gloves for good.

“I’ll see how it goes,” he said. “As long as you’re fit and know what you’re doing it’s not that dangerous.”

He has been at HLN since 1982 and mainly works on the firm’s Tesco stores account.

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