MIDDLESBROUGH heavyweight Will Howe was made to wait for his professional debut but delivered with an impressive four-round shut-out win.

The Boro Balboa was a 'floater' on Saturday night's card in Manchester, meaning he didn't step between the ropes until long after 11pm after Savannah Marshall had become undisputed super-middleweight champion.

But Howe took it all in his stride, and delivered a polished performance to see off experienced journeyman Jake Darnell.

Darnell, who was in the opposite corner when Olympian Frazer Clarke made his professional debut, has been around the block, but Howe, trained by Peter Fury, picked his punches well and eased to victory.

Fury said: "He's a young kid and he has talent. He boxed someone with experience. It's his debut, he was relaxed, worked on things, good for Will, it's a good start."

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North Shields welterweight April Hunter has titles on her mind after avenging the only defeat of her career so far in a rematch with Kirsty Bavington.

The 28-year-old landed a stunning overhand right in the penultimate round that proved decisive, with Hunter edging a decision 76-75.

Bavington won a points decision when the pair met in Newcastle a couple of years ago but the roles were reversed in Manchester, and Hunter hopes the win can act as a springboard to bigger and better thngs.

Bavington had a nightmare start when she suffered a bad cut after a nasty clash of heads in the first round, but recovered well and set a fast pace. Hunter, though, landed some eye-catching shots, the pick of the bunch undoubtedly coming in the seventh round when she floored her opponent with a brilliant right.

"She was in my range and I threw a chopping right hand over the top and it caught her sweet on the button and she went down," said Hunter.

"I know I've got power in my hands. A stoppage will come, Kirsty is durable.

"It's euphoric. I just need to take this momentum on now and shoot for the stars. I'm grateful for the position I'm in. I've had a really tough couple of years, I lost my cousin. Now I can hopefully get some momentum and do what I said, get some titles."