An emotional Andre Lambe fell to his knees in celebration after his unanimous points win over Shane Melo at The Fairmont Southampton on Saturday night.

Some may have felt it was a slight overreaction, considering his victory came in an amateur bout, with no titles or prize money at stake.

However, after a frustrating three years and a trio of successive defeats, the 20-year-old’s unbridled joy was a more than justified reaction.

Lambe, who trains alongside Nikki Bascome at Forty Rego’s Gym, delivered a classy display against Melo, of the MAS Academy of Martial Arts in Ontario, landing some fast and accurate combinations while continually cutting his fencer-like jab into his opponent’s midriff.

The southpaw believes a lack of focus had been his biggest adversary in his previous bouts and said he been working hard with his coaches to change his mind-set.

“I’ve been training a long time, three years, and it’s about time I got the win,” said Lambe, who was presented with his award by Jimmy Spithill, the Oracle Team USA skipper.

“Victory doesn’t always come when you want it to, it comes when you need it to.

“All that time my mindset was wrong, and this time I’m more humble and I’m listening more to my corner.”

Lambe, who is trying out for Bermuda’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team, said his dramatic celebration was for those who had helped maintain his “good vibes” during his soul-searching losing streak.

“That wasn’t for me, that was everyone else who was feeling the spirit that I wanted to give,” Lambe said. “I just felt really overwhelmed at the end.”

Meanwhile, Shannon Ford, of the Bermuda Sanshou Association, said failure was not an option in his rematch against Stefan Dill, of Police Gym.

Ford, who was boxing for the first time since his technical-knockout defeat by Corey Boyce at last year’s Teachers’ Fight Night, produced a largely disciplined performance durng his points win, using left jab and right-cross combinations to prevent his smaller opponent from fighting on the inside.

“I was really hungry tonight,” Ford said. “My son told me ‘daddy, do your best’ and that’s what I did.

“[Dill] tried to get at me and execute his combinations, but I kept him at bay with the jabs and one-twos. When we did come into close quarters I just let my hands go and then got back out.”

Boyce, of the Bermuda Muay Thai Association, extended his unbeaten record to 4-0 with a crowd-pleasing display against Daniel Avram, of MAS.

Cheered on by his Robin Hood team-mates, Boyce landed more power shots than Avram, taunting his gutsy opponent in the third round by dropping guard and leaning forward to invite an exchange.

Aram had a point deducted after throwing a succession of backhand punches out of desperation.

“I’m always happy with the win,” Boyce said. “I felt there were a lot of things I could have done better. He was a pretty tough kid, I give him that.”

In the other undercard bouts, Tyler Christopher, won his rematch with Kaya Simmons via unamimous decision to improve to 4-0.

Chistopher’s Controversy stablemate Robert Somner recorded a points win over DiAndre Burgess, while Jaylon Roberts beat Ral Vlad via a unanimous decision.

Keanu Wilson and Zain Philpott enjoyed victories, with Wilson beating Courtney Dublin on points in the night’s first fight.

Philpott ended his bout against Shomari Warner in spectacular style with a knockout finish 51 seconds into the fight.