SERIAL champion Joe Hughes has added another title to his impressive boxing CV.

Jaba Shalutashvili from Georgia was the latest fighter to feel the destructive punching of the Malmesbury 24-year-old.

The referee stepped to stop the IPO international super-lightweight championship fight at Bristol’s Whitchurch Sports Centre 1min 49sec into the eighth round.

So the affable Joe picked up his third separate championship belt in as many fights.

Twelve months ago Joe won the International Masters light-welterweight title when beating Kristian Dochev from Bulgaria on points and then he stalled the career of highly touted Philip Bowes at the O2 in London with a 10th round stoppage victory to lift the vacant Southern Area super lightweight championship.

Add to that the seven titles he won as an amateur – Schoolboy ABA, Junior ABA and Senior ABA as well as two Clubs for Young People (CYP) championships and gold medals in both a Four Nations and a Three Nations tournament – and the pattern that emerges is one of a prolific accumulator of titles.

He now has his eye on the English super-lightweight championship but may defend his IPO belt beforehand.

But just three bouts since December 2013 give an indication that opponents seem to be avoiding him.

After another example of his power punching on Shalutashvili it is perhaps easy to see why.

“It was the accumulation of blows that finished him in the end,” said Hughes. “Before the seventh round my corner said to step up the gas and I started to cut him off much more than earlier in the fight. I was catching him at will and the ref said it was no longer competitive.

“He was dangerous and caught me with a good right hand in the opening round. He was swinging big hooks with both hands which felt strong hitting my gloves and I knew not to get reckless.

“I hit him with a good body shot in the first which nearly took him out and from then on he concentrated on defending his body.

“Basically, I was too skilful for him and used the jab to break him down.

“I’d love to fight the unbeaten Tommy Martin for the English title but I may defend my IPO belt before then. There is talk of it happening as early as June at the Bath Pavilion.

“It is frustrating fighting so sparingly and it seems easier to attract foreign opponents because they don’t know me so well.

“My manager emails the Boxing Board of Control every month – knocking on the door – but so far we’ve been ignored.”