A full-house was treated to a great night of boxing at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, last Friday, as three home favourites entertained a thrilled crowd.

Darlington duo, Argie Ward, Francis Jones, appeared in their home town for the first time and both made excellent first impressions with Ward drawing a tough contest and Jones providing the most spectacular bout as he won with ease.

Fellow Darlington boxer, Oscar Hall, put on another great display, this time against a late replacement who weighed in a stone more than Hall, but Hall maintained his unbeaten record to notch up his 23rd win in 24 bouts since turning professional.

The evening's first two bouts saw Middlesbrough-based Dave Pearson lose his super-middleweight contest on points to Ben Coward of Swindon.

Lee McAllister's showboating caught the eye in the second bout of the evening as the Sheffield-based featherweight - from the same stable as Prince Naseem Hamed and it certainly showed - danced his way through the first round before getting down to business in the second.

Opponent, John Paul Ryan of Coventry, was withdrawn by his corner at the end of the second round after sustaining a damaged eye, but not before McAllister had shown his undoubted boxing class.

McAllister provided a great warm-up to Argie Ward's home debut as the 26-year-old entered the ring in his home town for the first time to a tremendous reception.

Ward received huge backing by the partisan crowd, so loud the referee failed to hear the bell signaling the end of round two of his super bantamweight contest with Suffolk's Rocky Dean.

Ward started impressively but Dean was just as powerful and came back strongly into the bout as Ward tired and later admitted nerves may have played a part in him failing to maintain his winning run.

The referee awarded the contest a draw, so Ward remains unbeaten with three wins behind him.

Francis Jones was stunning against Gary Cummings who had knocked out his previous two opponents but was no match for Jones whose quick hands put him in a class above his Sheffield opponent.

A knockout was inevitable and it came in the second round, meaning light-middleweight Jones has now won five and drawn one of his six bouts since turning professional last year.

He has suffered injury trouble with his hands recently but went into the fight brimming with his usual self-confidence and his commanding display justified the 22-year-old's self-belief.

Light-welterweight Hall was paired with middleweight, William Webster, who provided stern test for Hall, making the Darlington 28-year-old work for his victory which the referee scored 80-71.

Hall's victory sent the fans home happy and looking forward to the next bill at the Dolphin Centre which organisers hope will be as early as October with Hall possibly in line for a British title fight.