Witney light-middleweight Steve Mullins delivered a textbook performance to halt Gloucester rival Nathan Wyatt inside four rounds at the opening round of this year's ABA Championships in Frome.

The 20-year-old, who boxes for the Penhill RBL gym in Swindon, firmly imposed his authority from the bell by forcing the Bronx ABC veteran on to the back foot with a succession of straight rights, left hooks and penetrating body shots.

Wyatt's frustration was evident as almost all of his artillery bounced off Mullins' gloves and arms and he became increasingly exposed to the ferocious firepower.

The fluency of the Oxfordshire boxer's combinations intensified as the bout progressed, although there was brief lull in hostilities at the beginning of the final round after the elastic on Wyatt's abdominal protector snapped and had to be replaced.

The new equipment did not bring the Gloucester man any luck as, once again, he came under a series of ferocious attacks from the Witney man.

An unanswered six-punch combination prompted a standing count before the referee Mike Clarke stepped in to call a halt with 32 seconds left.