Wolvercote middleweight Chris Wood overcame the first hurdle on this year's ABA title trail with a spectacular knockout in his opening bout at Lydney Town Hall.

The 29-year-old Marston carpenter needed only 13 seconds to see off the challenge of Downend's Martin Robins.

Wood, the defending Western Counties 75 kg champion, took just six paces across the ring and launched an awesome right hand that sent his Gloucestershire rival crashing against the ropes before he slumped onto the canvas with no possible chance of coming back.

The stunning punch was inch-perfect in every way, launched with maximum leverage - and power - to catch the luckless Robins flush on the jaw.

"You normally like to make your presence felt with a hard shot early on in the bout, but that one was as good as any I've landed in the past," said the jubilant Wood.

"When he went down I knew his championships hopes had ended with just one blow - in a way I felt sorry for Martin to bow out like that.

"Boxing is, after all, a sport and it wasn't too long before he was back on his feet with only his pride injured."

Wood now meets Marlon Reid, from the Walcot gym in Swindon, in the Western Counties final at Yate on Saturday night.

"Naturally I shall show him the respect he deserves, but I think he is likely to be more worried about me after the last result," he added.

There was disappointment, though, for Berinsfield welterweight Robbie Wright, who bowed out in the regional finals of the NABC Championships earlier in the evening.

He failed to show his usual sparkle as he lost to Paignton rival Ben Wakeham.