The town fighters comfortably out-boxed the students

Oxford's locals have beaten the Oxford University students 8-4 in the annual Town v Gown boxing tournament.

Melvin Chen got the university off to the perfect start in the opening flyweight bout, beating Lewis Caldwell of Portsmouth University.

Chen leapt into the air as the master of ceremonies announced the judges' unanimous decision in his favour.

Town won the next three fights, including a fantastic victory for local fighter John Pownceby.

But Pownceby's Sunningwell club-mate Ross Corrigan narrowly lost to university favourite Vinnie Vitalle, who got a standing ovation from the partisan crown in the historic Union Debating Chamber after their bloody battle in the fifth fight, Vitalle's victory bringing the university back into the contest at 3-2.

Berinsfield welterweight Todd Mark re-established Town's two-bout lead, beating the Oxford University captain Stuart Garman with a unanimous verdict.

Mike Jones looked to have revived the university's fortunes after the interval, putting southpaw Paul Mitchell on his back with a vicious left hook in the first round of fight eight.

But the Town fighter got back on his feet to claim a unanimous decision.

Canadian politics student Cliff Mark got another score for the university when Windrush Valley fighter Lloyd Hancock ran out of steam with just seconds to go before the bell in the final round.

Had Hancock managed to keep his gloves up for a few more moments he might have taken the match on points.

Oxford Boxing Academy's Mitchell James secured the victory for Town, winning a split decision against student Richard Pickering to give his team an unassailable 7-3 lead.

The next fight went to Gary Lucas from the Sweet Science team, before the university claimed the final bout, Gideon Elford winning a majority verdict over Windrush Valley welterweight David Leah.

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