Boxers from Oxford University powered their way to victory at a prestigious Town versus Gown contest.

The students, coached by ex-England featherweight boxer Des Brackett, secured wins in seven bouts out of 11 at the Oxford Union debating chamber, in Frewin Court, on Monday.

University captain Tom Hughes, 20, a Rose Hill native who is studying at St Peter's College, said: "There was a brilliant atmosphere and my boxers did the club proud. A lot of them were relative novices, but they have come on a long way in a short time."

Mr Brackett, from Saunders Road, Cowley, said the event acted as a warm-up for the 101st annual Varsity match against Cambridge University.

He said: "Events like this are great for the relationship between the students and boxers in town."

Three all-girl fights between students acted as an undercard before the university pugilists took on boxers from several clubs.

  • Read a full match report in tomorrow's Oxford Mail sports pages.