Oxford University avenged last year’s defeat with a 6-3 win in the annual Town v Gown show at the Oxford Union.

Dark Blues skipper Ian Holland opened up in explosive fashion, winning by a technical knockout in the second round of his 71kg contest.

Women’s captain Claudia Havranek then dispatched her Town opponent with a points victory in a 64kg bout.

The university’s Conor Husbands recorded a unanimous points verdict over James Gorgan (Emeralds).

The Dark Blues’ Richard Beck was on the wrong end of a split points verdict against Coventry’s Tabur Sajim in their 66kg contest.

But university president Jack Straker then gained a technical knockout over Bath City’s John McLaughlin in the third round of their 65kg bout.

At the same weight, the Dark Blues’ Rowan Callinan was beaten on points.

But the university’s Magomed Chilaev defeated University College London’s Mikey Grizinski, and Jack Prescott overcame Oxford Boxing Academy’s Nasser Balayo in two 75kg contests, both on split decisions, to seal the victory.

The university’s Stephen O’Driscoll fought back from a first-round knockdown only to lose on a split decision to UCL’s Kirk Sneade in an 89kg battle.

There were also four university inter-club bouts.

Ishman Rahman gained a majority points verdict over James Kerr in their 57kg clash, while heavyweight Tony Besse claimed a unanimous decision over Michael Zhang at 88kg.

Ellie Berryman pipped Lucinda Poulton on a split decision in their 62kg contest, while Isra Hale claimed a unanimous points victory over Lucy Harris at 58kg.

The Dark Blues now face Cambridge in the Varsity Match at Oxford Town Hall on Saturday, March 8.