STEVE Mullins was surprised and delighted after winning on his professional debut in at the Oasis Leisure, Swindon, last week.

In his first competitive fight for six years, the former ABA finalist and England amateur international – when he represented Wolvercote ABC (now Oxford Boxing Academy) – dictated his first outing in the paid ranks against Walsall middleweight Bobby Wood.

‘Marvin’ Mullins, as he is now called in the ring, said: “It’s funny – I felt sharper tonight than I did after my last amateur bout and everything we worked on in the gym seemed to pay off.

“Taking that time (six years) away from the ring obviously renewed my enthusiasm.

“Getting the win was the main concern and I’m glad the plans worked out well.

“It is all part of the learning curve and tonight was just the start of that process in the professional game.”

Mullins, was always the sharper and more precise of the pair, landing strategic shots to both head and body off a refined, solid and probing jab.

Wood, who had also represented his country as an amateur, found himself on the back foot from the bell and was limited to occasional lefts to the body as he sought in vain to reverse the tide.

And he could offer no complaints as referee Clarke Joslyn raised the 31-year-old ’s arm in triumph after the clash ended its scheduled four three-minute rounds.

Mullins is next scheduled to box on the Keith Mayo-promoted bill at Chippenham on December 3.