MANCHESTER, England - Zak Miller is targeting more titles and bigger nights after successfully defending his Commonwealth featherweight belt against Leon Woodstock on Saturday.

The fight with Woodstock was the first of Miller's new promotional deal with Queensberry and he set out to make his mark. The former British champion could have made things easier for himself but he was determined to not only prove his worth to his new promoters, the 28-year-old also wanted to prove a point with Woodstock suggesting he'd run and hold.

Miller did neither. Instead, the Mancunian boxed and fought his way to an entertaining 12-round decision victory over the tough man from Leicester.

“I enjoyed that,” Miller (17-1, 3 KOs) told The Ring.

“I'm in the game for the big fights, the hard fights and the good fights and I've proven what I'm about again. I had a good fight with Leon Woodstock, I’ve come out and I’m still the champion.

“There was a lot riding on that. I’ve signed with Queensberry and taken on a bit of a bogeyman. Woodstock came down from super feather and he wants to reignite his career.”

Naturally, Miller is a quick footed, smart fighter but the higher reaches of the British featherweight division are filled with well-rounded, championship level operators and he knows that he will need to earn the right to box.

He will never develop true one-punch power but now hits hard enough to gain respect and has worked on his strength and in-fighting ability.

Fighters like Zelfa Barrett, Anthony Cacace and Archie Sharp may have beaten Woodstock in cleaner fashion by outboxing him from start to finish but, by holding his ground and beating Woodstock at his own game at times, Miller showed how his game is rounding out.

When he decided to keep the fight at range, Miller was able to score with a sharp jab and an accurate right hand. Importantly, he was never found wanting when Woodstock did get close.

Rather than getting dragged into a fight, Miller is now able to pick and choose when - and for how long - he gets involved.

“Nothing surprised me in there. Things are coming together. I've worked hard in the gym and I had an answer for everything,” he said.

“I've gone in there, done my job and put bums on seats. Everyone's talking about the fight and I’m happy with it. Leon was just what I expected.

“I just felt like I was that step above him. Fair play to him. He's a tough, tough fighter and I respect him massively but I was just better than him.“

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball, heads a strong British contingent at 126-pounds.

Nathaniel Collins heads the chasing pack. Back in November 2023, Collins eked out a majority decision win over Miller and the Scotsman is now preparing to challenge Spain’s Cristobal Lorente for the European title.

Former European junior featherweight champion Liam Davies, is now established at featherweight whilst unbeaten Welshman Rhys Edwards, is set to face Gully Power for the British title that Miller recently vacated.

All of Miller’s title fights have been gruelling distance fights and even though he knows that there will be no easy nights in his future, he is keen to get involved.

“I just want to win as many titles as I can in this sport,” he said. “I'm not bothered about names. There's no easy fights in the featherweight division. I'm not bothered about shouting any names or calling anyone out. I respect everyone who gets in that ring.

“I just want to win as many titles as I can and I'm ready. 100 million percent I'll get out again before the end of the year. As soon as I can. I’ve got no injuries, no cuts. I'm ready to go.”