YORK heavyweight Billy Wilson has enjoyed his first win at professional level - and he hopes the victory will set the platform for a rise up the British rankings.

Wilson beat Brighton scrapper Brodie Promain on points over six rounds at Elland Road in Leeds, getting the referee's nod despite hurting his thumb in the fifth round of the bout staged on the undercard to Denzil Browne.

"It was good experience, just what I needed," he said. "I had a good first four rounds and boxed well but in the fifth I hurt my thumb and just eased up. I took my foot off the pedal a bit and could not throw my right hand as much so stuck the jab out."

Former All Saints' School pupil Wilson, trained by Terry O'Neill at the 'Round One' gym in Leeds, will next enter the ring on December 1 on the undercard at Queen's Hotel in Leeds.

As reported by the Evening Press in August, he has designs on national and world titles after returning to boxing after a six-year gap.

"I want to get a steady build-up towards the end of the season and next year try to fight for an area title," he said. "By the end of next year I want to be in the top ten in Great Britain and take it from there."

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, November 13, 2003