It's a strange quirk of professional sport that a successful career can feel unfulfilled without the tangible reward of titles.

Fot Elliott Matthews, a Watford middleweight with a record of 20-0-1, Friday night provided the sense of completion he has been yearning for as he claimed the English title with a defeat of Grant Dennis.

The points decision, which came under the lights of Bethnal Green’s famous York Hall venue, was no more than the 36-year-old deserved after a commanding display.

Despite previously winning the Southern Area belt, Matthews says securing honours at English level makes the sacrifice he has made all the more worthwhile.

“To be honest, even though the Southern Area belt is a big one with a lot of history, I felt like to call myself a name in boxing I had to go a step beyond and win the English title,” Matthews said.

“I’m satisfied with what I have achieved and grateful for to have got where I have got, but wouldn’t have expected any less from the work I have put in.

“I would have been gutted if I hadn’t done that with the work that I have put in and I feel I have more to take from the sport. There is more to come.”

The road to winning a national title has been a arduous one for Matthews and he has had to contend with regular fight cancellations.

As a result, the southpaw has spent a number of years longing for the opportunity to fight for the English belt, which has taken its toil, both physically and mentally.

With this in mind, Matthews is now relishing the chance to enjoy some time away from the ring before returning his focus to boxing in 2018.

“I have spent so many years overthinking things and thinking about winning a title because I have been wondering if I would win or not,” he said.

“Now I have won the title I have a chance to sit down and not even think about boxing for the next month.

“I want to try and be Elliott Matthews again, whoever he is, and not think about it (boxing). I have thought about it too much and want to give myself a rest.

“After that, I will meet my team and and we have plenty of options. I will not be waiting on the sidelines.”

Matthews expects his return to the ring to come in April or March and says he will not be short on offers when he does.

Dennis is one potential, if unlikely, opponent and his camp have been making noises as if to suggest they would like a rematch.

Matthews feels a performance which saw him win by a unanimous decision means he has no need to face the 34-year-old again.

“He and his manager are dumbstruck and don’t know what is happening. They feel like they have had something picked out of their pocket,” he said.

“They didn’t expect us to be so slick and can’t deal with it and are grabbing at everything .

“They are trying to draw me into a war and a rematch by saying they thought it was a tight call, but I have looked back at the video of the fight and I have beaten him fair and square.”