Ryan Aston leads Dudley's new generation

That last fateful night on 28 June 2007 saw another Darren McDermott, who was among the spectators, retain the Midlands middleweight title.

'Macca' went on to come English champion and challenge for the British and Commonwealth titles, a pathway that could well await top of the bill Ryan Aston, writes Craig Birch.

Dudley's Aston's has missed out on two attempts at the area belt at 154lb but is back on track, having won an English title eliminator against Nathan Graham in October.

It was tune up time at the top of the bill with Devon-based Spaniard Christian Hoskin-Gomez, who stepped through the ropes in spirited mood.

The teak tough youngster, still just 20, arrived into battle on the back of two wins and a draw from his last three fights.

But the 24-year-old southpaw negotiated those pitfalls well to close out a points victory, 59-56 on the card of referee for the night Martin Williams.

Aston was docked a point for holding in the last, where his opponent also earned a share of the round and another on the way.

'Tank' had peppered him with those trademark left hands to the body, but is was soon clear that Hoskin-Gomez would not be removed.

A smattering of four-rounders supported the top liner with Tipton's Ricky Summers back after nine months out of action, picking up where he left off to make 10-0.

Lithuanian visitor Egidijus Kakstys folded in two to a spiteful left hook to the body, which broke his resolve in swift order.

There was just 20 seconds left of the round but, with plenty of time to answer the count and a breather coming up, Kakstys decided enough was enough.

A much closer affair saw Rowley Regis' Tyler Denny fight to a keenly-contested draw with spirited Nottingham veteran Simone Lucas.

Denny started off static and was prone to the right hand, which gave Lucas the impetus to come forward. The same shot rolled over the top back to remind him to approach with caution.

The plot thickened as the two jostled for the upper hand in the centre of the ring, with Denny unmoved even if he wasn't taking control.

Lucas stayed in his face as Denny tried to establish to the jab and, going into the fourth, it was still hard to tell where the result was going.

A scrappy final session ensured there would be something in it for Lucas as both had their hand raised, 39-39 with Mr Williams.

Denny could have no complaints about the result, against an experienced adversary who had come to win, never mind draw.

The same could be said for Kuwait-born Sheffield resident Anwar Alfadli, who took on debutant Matt Windlein his 61st pro outing. But this wasn't any old paid bow.

Windle must certainly be the only one to have laced on the gloves who earns his living as a professional poet and he's got the flashy gimmick to boot.

The strains of the original Batman theme saw Windle emerge clad in a bandana, in fitting with his 'Matt Man' pen name. And a heroic performance duly followed.

The poet with punch, 24, settled quickly and switched his shots to confuse Alfadli, who was clobbered more than once by the left hand waiting for the right to come.

Brummie Windle, with former pro Neil Perkins in his corner, nearly bowled him over with another left hook in the third, which left Alfadli desperately trying to reposition his feet.

It was toe-to-toe stuff in the fourth as Alfadli tried to save himself from defeat, a round he was awarded with Mr Williams. He had it 39-38 to Windle.

A former kickboxing world champion also turned over and became one of the youngest professionals in the country to boot.

The 18-year-old from Lichfield went in with the well-schooled Josh O'Donnell, boxing out of Tamworth in Staffordshire.

Foster made it look routine as he eased to a 40-36 points shut out, operating a touch tentatively but always in command of proceedings.

There was a stone between home fighter Les Byfield, from Netherton, and 'Dirty' Dan Carr in the night's opening bout, which ended up at welter.

Byfield clearly won the first three rounds and could afford to take his foot off the gas in the fourth, which gave Carr his share. Williams had it 40-37.