Wolvercote's Steve Mullins, who reached last season's ABA finals, opens his bid to go one better this term when he tackles Midlands middleweight champion Callum Johnson at the Grundy Park Leisure Centre, Cheshunt tonight.

The 25-year-old Witney boxer was unchallenged as he retained his Home Counties title.

He said: "Callum was beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual ABA champion James Degale last season, so he is an experienced opponent.

He cannot be taken for granted."

Elder brother Peter, 27, who claimed the Home Counties welterweight title with a comprehensive points win over Leigh Hughes, faces Phoenix's Leigh Morris in the same ring.

The Nottingham man reached the semi-finals of last season's competition.

Chris Woods, Wolvercote's other middleweight, travels to Merseyside tomorrow to tackle Joe McNally, from Liverpool's Rotunda ABC.

Closer to home, Berinsfield ABC stage their first tournament of the season at the Cowley Conservative Club tomorrow evening.