BRAMFORD light-heavyweight Steve Spartacus returned to the ring at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre last night and registered his 12th straight win with a second round stoppage victory over hapless Welshman Mark Phillips (writes boxing correspondent Andrew Whittle).

By Mel Henderson

BRAMFORD light-heavyweight Steve Spartacus returned to the ring at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre last night and registered his 12th straight win with a second round stoppage victory over hapless Welshman Mark Phillips (writes

boxing correspondent Andrew Whittle).

Spartacus, making only his third appearance in the last 16 months following problems with an injured knuckle on his left hand, looked a division bigger than his Carmarthen opponent and dictated the pace from the opening bell against an opponent who fired back only very rarely.

A confident Steve, for once making his ring entrance without his customary Spartacus regalia, glared at his pale skinned, goatee-bearded

opponent across the ring as the

preliminary announcements were made before immediately backing the Welshman up with a hard right to the body as soon as the action started.

Another crunching right to the body and two quick rights to the chin jolted the under pressure Phillips who winced when Spartacus whipped in a wicked right uppercut, and by the time the bell sounded to end the opening session the writing was already on the wall.

The second round brought no respite for Phillips who was simply unable to handle Steve's strength.

A big right cross was answered by a rare left to the head from Phillips before Spartacus renewed his onslaught with a punishing left to the body followed by an almost immediate overhand right that sent Phillips, delayed reaction, to the canvas.

Phillips rose as referee Billy Aird reached a count of seven, but he was still more than a little groggy and there were more than a few raised eyebrows when after a quick look into the Welshman's eye's Mr Aird allowed the bout to continue.

By that stage Spartacus was cruising – he knew the contest was in the bag and seemed as surprised as anyone that Phillips had been allowed to go on.

There was to be no escape though for Phillips and when a by now almost casual Spartacus landed another big left he was sent reeling across the ring leaving referee Aird no option but to end his torture and mercifully wave a halt with two minutes and 18 seconds of the second round gone.

The well supported Spartacus says he now plans to keep busy and his next outing may be in South Yorkshire.

A spot on the June 10 show at Sheffield's Pond's Forge Leisure Centre is a possibility while the next Hennessy Sports show at Norwich Sports Village on Friday, July 25 would give him the chance to showcase his skills on a stage a little nearer to home.

Last night's card was co-headlined by Norwich heavyweight Herbie Hide who avenged one of only two career defeats by knocking out Zambia's Joseph Chingangu inside the opening round.

Hide is now likely to top the bill at the Norwich show with Manchester's former British champion Michael Holden a possible opponent.