Briton Sandy Ryan became a two-weight world champion with a hard-fought points win over Karla Ramos Zamora in Nottingham, claiming the vacant WBC light-welterweight title.

The 32-year-old was below her best in a high-tempo contest against the awkward Mexican at the Motorpoint Arena.

Zamora’s relentless output made several rounds difficult to score, but Ryan’s cleaner counters proved decisive with the judges.

Scores of 95-95, 97-93 and 97-93 gave the Derby fighter a majority decision.

“I knew Zamora was going to be tough, but my lord she is tough,” Ryan said. “I think I broke my right hand in round three and from there it became a bit more messy.

“I made it hard work for myself. But it’s because she’s tough as well.”

A former welterweight world champion, Ryan improves her record to nine wins, three defeats and one draw.

She was fighting on the undercard of Leigh Wood v Josh Warrington, who meet in their rematch later on Saturday.

Earlier, Molly McCann claimed her third professional win by outpointing Beata Dudek, while teenagers Leo Atang and Tiah Mai Ayton continued their unbeaten runs.

Heavyweight Atang, 19, stopped Dan Garber inside a minute to make it five from five, and Ayton, also 19, went the distance for the first time in her fifth bout, defeating Catherine Tacone Ramos on points.

Popular heavyweight Dave Allen returned to winning ways with a first-round stoppage of Karim Berredjem. The 33-year-old from Doncaster had lost to Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov – who is scheduled to face Tyson Fury in April – in his last outing.