Wolvercote's Peter Buchta and Sunningwell's Stuart Pownceby are through to the quarter-finals of the ABA Novice Championships after claiming their respective Home Counties titles at Marlow.

Pownceby was quicker into his stride against James Nugent, from the host gym, and his more precise punching gave him the edge.

A more precise jab proved from the Oxfordshire man to be the deciding factor in this light welterweight battle.

Pownceby now travels to Watford on May 13.

Wolvercote heavyweight Buchta joins him there after prompting the Thame corner to retire his taller rival Phil Cosgrove in the final round of their clash.

The Polish-born southpaw landed a flurry of shots to put Cosgrove on the back foot and, seeing their man adrift, the towel came in midway through the third period.

Buchta's success followed two successive disappointments for the North Oxford gym.

Welterweight Daza Usher lost a unanimous decision to Bedford's Damien Davidson, while Vince Sessegnon missed out on a split decision to Simon Nevin from St Albans.

Berinsfield schoolboy Christy Collins gained a comprehensive victory over Marlow's John McFadden.

* Berinsfield ABC stage their final tournament of the season on Saturday, May 13 at the Abbey Sports Centre in the Oxfordshire Estate.