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The estranged half-brother of Meghan Markle, Thomas ‘The Duke’ Markle Jr, was crowned a celebrity boxing champion Saturday - after his scheduled opponent didn’t turn up and the stand-in was disqualified for hitting Markle below the belt at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Markle had dedicated the fight to his sister Meghan and nephew Archie. He exclusively told DailyMailTV after the fight that he desperately wants to reunite with his sister and meet his nephew, and he is hoping this will happen by Archie’s 1st birthday. 

He said: ‘Meghan remember you have a brother and a family in the United States. I’m looking forward to seeing you again someday.’

Markle was originally scheduled to fight Henry ‘Nacho’ Laun, a childhood friend of actor Mark Wahlberg, but the night before the fight the promoter Damon Feldman replaced him with Tim Kudgis, 34, a local boxing radio host. 

Thomas ‘The Duke’ Markle Jr is awarded the belt after his opponent was disqualified on Saturday in Atlantic City

Radio host Tim Kudgis (left) filled in at the last minute, agreeing to fight Markle (right) in the charity benefit bout

Thomas Markle Jr (blue shorts) fights against Tim Kudgis (red shorts) in a celebrity boxing match held at the Showboat Casino

Kudgis throws a jab during the celebrity boxing bout for charity on Saturday at an Atlantic City casino

Meanwhile, Meghan Duchess of Sussex appeared with Prince Harry at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London Saturday

Markle had dedicated the fight to his sister Meghan and nephew Archie (pictured with Prince Harry) and said he desperately wants to reunite with his sister

The 6’ 3” Markle weighed in at 261 lbs while his opponent, Kudgis toped the scales at 222lbs.

The fight was scheduled for three one-minute rounds, but the 53-year old brother of the Duchess of Sussex was declared the winner midway through the second round after his opponent was disqualified for hitting him below the belt in the groin area on two occasions.

The first time Markle’s opponent hit him in the groin area he was given a warning then seconds later he was hit again below the belt, this time he went down on the canvas. 

The referee immediately disqualified Kudgis and declared Markle the winner. Markle said ‘the first time he hit me in the groin I didn’t really feel it, but that second time he hit me I felt it, it took my breath away'.

During the first round Markle appeared winded. Medical personal came over to his corner after the round and asked him if he was OK. He told them he was.

Markle said he was getting his ‘bearings in the first round.' 

'I’m new to the ring. I think I did pretty good for a 53-year old. I was having problems with my head gear that restricted my breathing, but I’m new to this. I’ll be ready for the next one,’ he said. 

He said he is ready to do it again and will give his opponent a rematch.

The bout was supposed to last for three one-minute rounds, but only made it into the second round before Kudgis DQ'd

Thomas Markle Jr (blue shorts) fights against Tim Kudgis in a celebrity boxing match held at the Showboat Casino

Markle (blue shorts) throws a hook during the bout. He had to be seen to by paramedics between rounds

Markle (blue shorts) reacts as Kudgis throws a punch during their fight on Saturday at Atlantic City

Markle, 53, struggles to regain his footing during the bout, after calling for paramedics in between rounds

The judges (above) ruled that Kudgis was disqualified after hitting Markle repeated below the belt 

Markle said he was thinking about dropping out of the fight a few days earlier because he wasn’t feeling well, he had some joint pain and had been battling the flu for the past few months, but changed his mind after taking some CBD gummy bears.

Fight promoter Damon Feldman told DailyMailTV that Markle wanted to quit the boxing match after the first round because he was winded and felt like he couldn’t go on. 

Feldman said that ‘Markle had to be coaxed to continue with the fight, he was gassed, he wasn’t in shape to fight.’

The night before the fight Markle jokingly told DailyMailTV, when he was asked if he trained hard for his fight, ‘I’ve been training 50 years for this’ as he held a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Markle said he was happy with the win and couldn’t wait to celebrate at the after-party.

Markle poses with organizers and supporters after the bout with the $1,000 check for the Wounded Warrior Project

Celebrity Boxing organizer Damon Feldman said for this fight $1000 was donated to the Wounded Warriors Project

Markel is seen after the bout left and right, with his opponent boxing radio host Tim Kudgis

Markle said he wanted to clarify he was never homeless but lived in a hotel only for a few weeks while he was looking for a new place to live. He’s found a new place to live, he said ‘where I live -Grants Pass, OR- it’s hard to find a place.’

He also said he’s in contact with his father Thomas Markle, Sr and ‘he’s doing great.’

Celebrity Boxing is a competition where two celebrities or people in the media are pitted against each other in the ring to raise money for charity. Feldman said for this fight $1,000 was donated to the Wounded Warriors Project, which helps veterans and active duty service members.

His half-sister Meghan's husband, Prince Harry was in the British Armed Forces and now works to promote the welfare of those who are serving of have served.

Philadelphia based boxing promoter Feldman is known as the '16-minute man' for giving celebs their 16th minute of fame in the boxing ring.

Feldman, a former undefeated professional boxer, dubbed the Jewish Rocky, is also producing a movie about his colorful life coming in 2020.