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 evening.

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.

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.

Pictured, Berinsfield's Roxroy Eccleston, in the red headguard, looks like he has just taken a blow from the university's Melvin Chieu, but came out the winner.