Oxford University’s stranglehold on the Truelove Bowl was well and truly shattered after losing 9-0 to Cambridge in the 102nd Varsity Boxing match before a packed house at the Old Billingsgate Market in London, writes PETER FOLEY.

The Dark Blues had been looking to retain the trophy for a fourth year in succession, but they emerged without a single bout victory.

The more experienced Cambridge squad deserved their win – admittedly there were some contentious decisions – and that has prompted chief coach Des Brackett to call for the University’s boxing system to be re-examined.

He said: “University boxing has become far more technical with standards increasing all the time.

“It is happening in institutions all over the country and not just in Oxford and Cambridge.

“And a strong dose of reality has been felt by the Oxford boxers – they now know that having only a bout or two before the trials is just not good enough.

“It requires commitment from them to get out and box more often to get better prepared and the squad needs that experience enhanced with more returning Blues.

“Having plenty of heart is not enough, the stakes have been raised dramatically at this level and Oxford has to step up to the plate – there is only so much that can be taught by the coaches in the gym.

“We have worked with a low budget, whereas Cambridge travelled everywhere, got their boxers experienced and then reaped the rewards.

“That same kind of financial input is required if it is to be a level playing field in the Varsity match.

“It certainly is not going to happen again – a boxer has to have at least six bouts before representing Oxford at Varsity level and that is the way it will be in the future.”

Although the night started with a Dark Blues defeat, Adam Blick had shown great promise in the opening featherweight clash against Irfan Ahmed.

In all three sessions he landed the better jabs of the pair and could easily have seen his arm raised in triumph.

At lightweight, Tom Nickalls used his extra reach to get behind the jab and edge the opening period.

But two standing counts during the middle period imposed by the right hand of Cambridge opponent Ieuan Marsh turned the tide.

The greater accuracy of Light Blues captain Will Rees, who also prompted a standing count from an unanswered volley of shots in the closing seconds, gave him the upper hand in a toe-to-toe light welterweight thriller with Balliol’s Chris Pearson.

Theology post graduate Vincent Vitale faced Rob Chapman – the other 2008 Cambridge Blue – and also succumbed to two standing counts, one prompted by each fist, before referee Jumbo Basi called a halt in round two of the welterweight enco-unter.

Oxford’s grasp on the Truelove Bowl ended as Cliff Mark failed to match the accuracy of trainee vet Chris Webb, losing the light middleweight rubber by a wide margin.

Cambridge then claimed victory in both middleweight clashes – Richard Pickering was bowled over by a looping left landed by southpaw Ed Chadwick which heralded the end inside a round.

But Adam Levine was unlucky not to see his arm raised after a bruising battle with Jay Thomas.

The Corpus Christi mathematics postgraduate looked to many the busiest of the pair and could just as easily have seen the split decision fall his way.

The last two bouts failed to go the distance.

Debutant light heavyweight Simon Lowe took two counts when trapped in the corner by Eddie Hutt barrages before being rescued midway through the second by Olym-pic referee Billy Phillips.

And heavyweight Peter Anderson, the only survivor from the victorious 2008 Oxford team, was sent sprawling by an overhand right from Adrian Teare that ended his resistance in only 20 seconds.