Hartlepool'S British champion Michael Hunter last night moved a step closer to his dream European title fight after a clinical defence of his belt last night.

Hunter successfully retained his super-bantamweight title for the second time with a bright and powerful display at the Borough Hall in his home town.

The 26-year-old made it 22 unbeaten contests after seeing off Yorkshireman Sean Hughes when the referee stopped the bout in the sixth round.

Hunter dumped Pontefract's Hughes to the canvas in the early stages of the round and, with the challenger hurting, finished him off in style to delight his crowd.

After an even opening round, Hunter got on top in the second and kept up the punishment in the third with a series of well-drilled attacks.

The fourth followed the same route - Hunter in command. But Hughes came back into it in the fifth - the first time he tested Hunter's mettle.

Hunter came out firing at the start of the sixth and, after Hughes was left reeling with a stunning body shot, the outcome was never in doubt.

Earlier, Darlington's Franny Jones lost his unbeaten tag at the 11th attempt. The welterweight lost 60-56 after six gruelling rounds to the powerful Ali Nuumbembe of Namibia.

The entertaining former Hartlepool United trainee knew last night was going to be the toughest fight of his career - and so it proved as the pair ferociously slugged it out.

Jones took a harsh count in the second round after he lost his footing, but got on top in third. He wobbled slightly in the fifth, but lost out on points.

Hartlepool's Commonwealth light welterweight champion Kevin Bennett comfortably beat Gateshead's Danny Moir, clinically finishing him off in the third round of an exhibition contest.

And Darlington's Argie Ward drew 58-58 with Peter Allen. The Bantamweight found the Scouser a durable opponent and, despite being well on top in the second round, he refused to buckle and comfortably stayed the distance.

* The British and Commonwealth super-featherweight clash between Alex Arthur and Craig Docherty will go ahead at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Sports Centre on April 8.

Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the eagerly-awaited showdown after beating off the joint-purse bids from Barry Hearn and Tommy Gilmour to secure the rights.

He said: ''This is a fantastic fight that is sure to sell out."