MALMESBURY Boxing Club's Joe Hughes pulled off the biggest win of his career at Barnsley Metrodome when he out-pointed top-rated and multi-titled Danny Phillips (South Bank ABC, Middlesborough) to win the Junior ABA title.

The plan was to entice the slick-punching southpaw Phillips, so excellent off his back foot, to come forward, but he was reluctant to abandon his normal style, although he was forced to lead and connected with fast, left crosses to open up a three-point lead after the first round.

Phillips clearly expected Hughes to adopt the same waiting tactics in the second round but Hughes had other ideas.

He went onto the attack and turned the fight around, landing with jabs, left hooks and three-punch combinations to close the gap to just one point at the end of the session.

Roared on by club supporters who had made the long trip to Yorkshire, as well as supporters from other clubs, the popular Malmesbury boy had only victory in his mind in the final round.

Phillips was under relentless but controlled pressure.

Early in the round, Hughes emerged from a clinch with blood running down his cheek.

The referee called the doctor for an inspection but the cut was below the eye and he was allowed to continue.

The cut only served to spur Hughes to even greater efforts and Phillips was caught with accurate right hands and hooks while trapped on the ropes.

This sealed Hughes' victory and, with it, his second national title in consecutive years.

Hughes has now received his second England call-up and will box in the Four Nations Championship in Scotland at the end of the month.