MICHAEL Hunter topped the bill last night in his WBF Super Bantamweightworld title fight at The Jesters Centre in Hartlepool last night.

Undefeated Hartlepool-born Hunter was up against Sweden's Frankie De Milo who has won 14 of his 16 professional fights.

In the other contests there were good wins for Darlington pair Isaac Ward and Francis Jones. Both boxers are coached by Hunter's trainer Neil Fannan and they both showed early signs they could follow in the stablemate's footsteps.

Ward was first into the ring in a featherweight contest with Northampton's John Paul Ryan and he was able to claim his second victory in his first two fights as a professional.

The North-East man was forced to go the distance and the judges awarded the fight his way with a 59-57 points decision.

It was a far cry from Ward's debut when he knocked out Neil Bilston in just 44 seconds, but he still had to work hard against the never-say-die Ryan.

Ward started the brighter with some powerful left hooks and by the third it looked as if the ex-Darlington ABC man would claim a stoppage. But Ryan kept going and inflicted a cut just above his opponent's left eye early in the fifth round.

Ward kept going, however, and he just did enough to sway the judges his way.

Light-middleweight fighter Jones was also forced to go the full six rounds against Nottingham's Richard Inquieti.

Jones, a former Hartlepool United trainee, again showed his potential with a spirited points win to record his third consecutive success.

The youngster had the better of the early exchanges as the experienced Inquieti was slow out of the blocks.

Jones caught his opponent with some good left hooks in the opening round, and he maintained the pressure during the next couple.

Inquieti hit back, though, and made a contest of it but it was too little too late and Jones deserved the 59-56 points decision.

Spennymoor's Micky Thompson, meanwhile, made it six wins from six contests with a points victory over Lancaster's Gary Thompson.

Both cruiserweight boxers were cautious in the first few rounds, but it was Micky who was looking the more likely of the two to step up a gear.

In the third round the former Spennymoor ABC man pressed his claim for a stoppage, but Gary Thompson managed to recover and the bell sounded.

In the fourth and final round heavy pressure from Micky gave him verdict over Thompson.