Robbie Davies Jr got back to winning ways after his loss to Lewis Ritson last October with a straight forward points win over Argentinean survivor Damian Yapur in a super-lightweight eight-rounder in the pre-television undercard for Scott Quigg’s fight with Jono Carroll in Manchester.

In his first fight since switching trainers to Dominic Ingle, Davies controlled the fight, mostly on the outside, often boxing southpaw. But Yapur’s lack of ambition meant that openings were limited. Referee Phil Edwards scored it 80-72.

“I had to show I could listen rather than just going out and having a tear-up,” Davies said. “I needed those rounds. If I had someone I could have knocked over in a couple of rounds it wouldn’t have been beneficial. I can’t complain but it was not the usual exciting fights people expect with me.”

Dalton Smith, who this time last year probably still had ambitions of making the Olympics, recorded his fifth straight win as a professional stopping the completely outgunned Benson Nyilawila, of Tanzania, 18 seconds into the fourth round of a scheduled super-lightweight six-rounder.

Smith, 23, probably would have got the job dine quicker had it not been for going a bit gung-ho in the second round, after knocking Nyilawila down twice in the first – the first time from a left jab that caught Nyilawila square on, the second time from a left hook.

A more settled approach in the third round brought results, as Smith landed a good overhand right, which led to the third knockdown. And, after another right had put Nyilawila over again at the start of the fourth, referee Steve Gray stopped the fight.

The evening began with four four-rounders, all of which went the distance and were eon by the home fighter.

Blane Hyland, of Liverpool, won every round of his bout with Nicaragua’s Joel Sanchez at super-flyweight, as did Stretford super-middleweight Bradley Rea against Pavol Garaj, of Slovakia, the pair extending their unbeaten records to three and nine respectively.

Ibrahim Nadim dropped a round as the Keighley super-bantamweight claimed a 39-37 decision over Stefan Nicolae, of Romania, for a second professional win.

Aqib Fiaz, of Oldham, landed plenty of meaty shots but couldn’t shift Dean Jones, of Telford, in their lightweight clash. Fiaz was winning his fifth bout, Jones was losing his 27th of 28, although he has only been stopped once.