The Colne bantamweight beat Salford's Senol Dervis on points in St Helens, after his scheduled contest for the vacant Irish belt with Paul Hyland in Dublin on July 5th was called off last week.

McFadyen was given the excuse that he could not compete for the title as he has yet to have at least an eight-round contest, and 29-year-old journeyman Marc Callaghan, from St Helens, replaced him on the bill.

Facing a long wait until his next contest in September, he took the fight on Sunday at short notice against Salford light welterweight Dervis, and extended his professional record to nine wins and a solitary defeat.

Dervis had a stone advantage, but McFadyen came through unscathed, winning five of the six rounds, and sharing the other.

McFadyen opened well, finding his range against the tricky southpaw, and he made the fight more interesting in the closing seconds of the final round, after staying out of trouble in the middle four rounds.

And the 26-year-old said: "I wanted to box before the end of the season.

"I've been in the gym all year, preparing for a fight in May, which was cancelled for the title fight in Ireland, before that fell through as well.

"I needed a release, I was asked to box, and I wanted to take the fight, even though it was at two days' notice, against a lad who was a light welterweight, and bigger than me.

"I was wary of him, so I didn't rush anything or take any risks.

"I made it hard for myself, but Ricky Goddings, a light welterweight from my gym, had boxed him and felt he wasn't a big puncher.

"I under-estimated him, and I thought I would box his head off, and I won't do that again.

"I didn't get hurt, but he was awkward and horrible to fight, so it was a great experience I can learn from."

And he spoke of his Irish title let-down: "It was a good match, but I was told you can't box for the Irish title if you haven't done at least an eight-rounder.

"I think they have taken a better fight for their lad, Marc Callaghan is on his way down but is a name to beat.

"It was a big disappointment, but I believe things happen for a reason, and even the time I have spent preparing for the fight, getting it in my head I was going for a title, will bring me on and make me a better fighter."

McFadyen will next be in action, again in his home town at The Muni, on September 28th, when he hopes to share the bill with fellow Colner, light middleweight Shaun Horsfall, and Nelson welterweight Chris O'Brien.