LIAM MATTINGLEY did a jig of joy - and led a conga-line of Southampton Golden Ring ABC winners at their show at Ikon nightclub.

Mattingley's delight at recording his first win after defeats in his opening two bouts was evident and his majority points success over Dudley Ojay from Finchley ABC was testament to his determination.

He always set the pace against the London lad and, if his defence was untidy at times, his aggression more than compensated. The scores were pretty even on the judges' cards going into the last round but Mattingley swung them round by forcing Ojay to take a standing eight count, after showing him the left and landing a solid right.

England international Tony Hill was a convincing winner over Nick Jenman from Southwick. The former NABC champion always had that bit too much class and polish for Jenman, stalking him from the first bell and controlling the bout from the centre of the ring.

Despite his superiority, Hill never pressured Jenman, preferring to deal in sharp, accurate combinations and Hill's coaches will want to correct a potentially dangerous tendency to stand back and admire his work at times.

Danny Kent stretched his unbeaten run to 12 with a unanimous points win over Bradley Skeet from Earlsfield. The Pocket Rocket boxed a mature and cute bout, overcoming Skeet's considerable height and reach advantage. Skeet was unable to breach Kent's sound defence which gave the Golden Ring boxer the confidence to constantly slip Skeet's lead and step inside to work effectively.

Darren Wyatt continued his rehabilitation with a unanimous points win over the rated Dave Kahn from Earlsefield.

Former ABA junior finalist Wyatt has rediscovered his appetite and it showed against Kahn as he got the full meat behind his punches to rock the Londoner.

Bradley Barney recovered from his quarter-final defeat in the NABC championship to record a hard-fought win over Rob Newman from Bournemouth.

Barney's lack of basic fitness, caused by a foot injury curtailing his road work, produced an untidy performance against an awkward opponent whose only concession to style was to lunge at Barney with both arms swinging wildly.

Richie Ward's first bout for Golden Ring since his transfer from Portsmouth Stacy ended in a disappointing defeat at the hands of Mark McCullough from Thame.

Ward under-performed by his own high standards against an opponent who showed the greater aggression and rarely allowed Ward to show his superior skills.

On the final bell, Ward returned to his corner shaking his head, knowing he hadn't done enough, but his lack of self-delusion and realisation he had undersold himself will stand him in good stead.

There was better fortune for Louis James in his first bout for Golden Ring since his move from Fareham.

James posted a unanimous points win over John Joyce from Thame ABC.

Joyce was content to try to box on the retreat but James dogged him and, although at times he had problems finding his range, his aggression and work rate gave him a convincing victory.

Southampton ABC's Darren Curtis won the local bragging rights in his bout with Golden Ring's Lee Bray.

Classic boxing skills were at a premium in a raw-boned contest, with Curtis the neater and tidier boxer to earn the decision on all three judges cards.

Bout of the night was Luke Castle's tremendous tussle with Ashley Sexton from Finchley. In a real toe-to-toe contest Castle had to work hard to nullify Southern Area champion Sexton's fast hands and, although Sexton threw plenty of leather, Castle's punching appeared to carry more accuracy and he invariably finished each round stronger as Sexton faded.

In the end, two judges were unable to separate them and the third could only see a one-point margin of victory.