The British title is "all I want to win". Reece Bellotti is a major step closer to realising his career ambition after claiming a thrilling points victory over Youssef Khoumari at Wembley Arena on Saturday.

The South Oxhey fighter tried to play down the significance of his triumph after coming out on top of an absorbing ten-round battle for the British super featherweight title eliminator, but promoter Eddie Hearn was in no doubt the 32-year-old’s career was on the line.

‘Bomber’ fought for the British featherweight crown in December 2018, but after losing on a split decision to Ryan Walsh he had beaten three more times in his five subsequent fights.

However, he is now set to face the winner of Liam Dilllon vs Qaid Ashfaq, who will meet for the vacant belt in Newcastle on June 24, with Hearn eyeing an autumn date in London.

“That’s all I want to win,” Bellotti said when asked about the prospect of fighting for the British crown. “That’s always the title that anyone wants to win when they first come into boxing, the British title. The British title’s the one I want the most.”

Bellotti, who made his professional debut in 2015, said being a “massive competitor” had kept him hungry.

“In life, in everything I do I want to win anything,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, even if it’s against my kids I’m not letting them win. I’m ruthless like that. I was brought up that way, I want to win everything and when you lose you’ve got to keep going and keep fighting.”

Matchroom promoter Hearn was delighted to see Bellotti prevail and said: “He can try and be as calm as he wants, he knows that was a massive win for Reece Bellotti tonight. That was really his career on the line. I think it would have been difficult for him to come back from that.

“He’s a lovely young man and he came through at a time when we were kind of coming through, he was winning Commonwealth titles at York Hall, he couldn’t quite get to the next level, the British title. He fought Ryan Walsh who was, at the time, arguably a world level fighter."

Hearn continued: “I don’t think he would have beaten Youssef Khoumari three years ago. I think he might have got frustrated, a little bit clumsy but he’s listened to Jim (trainer Jim McDonnell).

“The fitness levels are unbelievable. If you train with Jim McDonnell, one thing you’re not lacking is fitness. He will have known he could have done 15 rounds, but one thing’s for sure, that was a massive win.

“He’s such a lovely bloke, great family, always had great support from Watford and he’s going to fight for the British title. And I believe he’s going to win the British title as well and it would be great if we can see him win a Lonsdale belt, it will be fantastic. I’m chuffed for him.”