ADY LEWIS, the 'Mighty Atom' from Bury, has taken another step closer to a title fight.

Boxing at the Tara Sports and Leisure Centre at Shaw on Sunday, October 13, he stopped Sunderland's Gary Hickman in the third round to further underline his credentials in the ring.

Hickman has always been a fighter known for toughness and durability but on this occasion he was on the receiving end in a one-sided contest.

He simply couldn't cope with the all-out aggression and awesome punching power of Lewis, the diminutive fighter driving his opponent round the ring from the opening bell and punishing Hickman with short, accurate hooks to the body.

Round three proved decisive as Hickman took a series of heavy hoks to the body and sank to his knees. He bravely stood to face his opponent but the refgeree wisely stepped in to save him from further punishment.

It leaves Lewis with a 100 per cent record as a professional after his first ten bouts and only one of those has gone the distance.

With the Central Ares Flyweight title vacant, that could be the object of the Bury youngster's next fight an manager Jack Doughty feels Lewis can go all the way if he remains dedicated.

"He is one of the finest prospects in the country and is capable of going on beyond a British title is he continues to train hard and keep his mind focused on the job," said Doughty.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.