BOXING: Bramford light-heavyweight Steve Spartacus went over familiar ground at Bethnal Green's York Hall when, despite conceding weight, a picked up a four rounds points victory over Stoke journey-man Darren Ashton.

Bramford light-heavyweight Steve Spartacus went over familiar ground at Bethnal Green's York Hall when, despite conceding weight, a picked up a four rounds points victory over Stoke journey-man Darren Ashton.

It was just over two months since the pair met previously in a late-night encounter at Manchester Evening News Arena and that meeting also has a similar outcome.

The growing band of Spartacus followers were again in evidence at York Hall, and if Saturday is anything to go by they may soon begin to look like an army.

Several Suffolk fight fans turned up in full Roman army regalia, prompting Spartacus to grin and ask, "What have I started now".

While the experienced Ashton is a boxer who loses much more frequently than he wins, he is an awkward straight- up sort of fighter who tends to cover well without really throwing much in return, consequently giving his opponents a real opportunity to shine.

Spartacus, as usual, was quickly into his stride firing home a couple of early clubbing rights followed by a left-right combination and a series of solid lefts to the body.

With nothing really coming back in his direction he took the opportunity to forge further ahead, catching Ashton with another right to the body before a right followed by a quick left snapped back the head of the Stoke man, who was holding on even at this early stage.

Ashton did manage to up his work rate a little in the second, connecting with a couple of left hooks before Spartacus again took control with a left through the middle ushering in a flurry of shots which had Ashton covering up on the ropes.

By that stage Spartacus had already done enough whilst it was obvious that Ashton was just intent on making through to the final bell.

A rare right from Ashton early in the third was his only real contribution to the round as Spartacus contented himself with working to the body before landing a stinging overhand right and a nice left uppercut.

The final round followed the earlier pattern with Spartacus happy to continue pounding the body of Ashton who was by now throwing nothing in return.

He was able to pick his shot virtually at will and he even had time for a little show-boating. Ashton grinned and shrugged his shoulders at the end as referee Lee Cook scored the one-sided contest 40-36, giving Spartacus every round.

The win takes the Bramford star to nine straight victories since joining the professional ranks but what he really needs is to go in against an opponent of a slightly higher class who will push him more and give him a much harder workout.

Spartacus spent time over the weekend with the team from Sky Sports who screened highlights of this fight along with a short boxing profile. He said, "Clips from my fight will be seen here and by fight fans in the USA which is all helping to build my profile."

He also revealed that he is considering dropping down to the 12 stone super middle-weight division.

"The reason is that I would pick up more competitive fights in this divisionb. I hope my next outing will be back at the York Hall on March 16 on the card of the previously postponed Takaloo against Ryan Rhodes light middle-weight clash."