COLIN KENNA made a winning return to the ring yesterday with a routine stoppage of 'Big Red' O'Neil Murray, writes Jeremy Wilson.

The Lordshill heavyweight has been out of action for the past nine months while he recovers from surgery to an injured elbow.

But he delighted a packed Southampton Guildhall crowd by overpowering his Brixton opponent, who failed to answer the bell for the fourth round.

O'Neil blamed an arm injury for his retirement but was gradually being worn down by Kenna's ram-rod left jab and overhand rights.

But Kenna, pictured below, did survive one slightly worrying moment when he caught with a decent right-hand in the first round.

But he quickly shook off the effects of that punch and his near two-stone weight advantage helped him take control and put Jamaican-born Murray on wobbly legs throughout.

Roared on by a vocal crowd, Kenna was visibly disappointed when his opponent pulled out, depriving his supporters of what looked a likely knockout victory.

It was the 12th win of Kenna's 15 fight professional career.

Gosport's Steve Ede made a memorable professional debut with a superb fourth-round stoppage of the more experienced Jed Tytler.

Ede, 27, floored his Hartlepool opponent in the fourth and the referee waved a halt to the contest after 1min 47secs of the round.

It was also a good debut for Southampton's Mervyn Langdale.

Trained and managed by Jack Bishop, Langdale was almost denied a first fight when scheduled opponent Gary Thompson pulled out. But at short notice he agreed to take on experienced Nick Okoth.

Langdale made a slow start and looked to be in a hopeless position after being largely outboxed in the opening four rounds.

But he had his Battersea opponent in serious trouble in the fifth before winning the sixth and final round to secure a creditable draw.

Also in action was New Milton crowd favourite 'Dangerous' Danny Goode.

In only his second professional fight, middleweight Goode produced an impressive all-action display to take a four-round points win over Aldershot's Neil Jamolinski and maintain a perfect record.

Goode hit the canvas in the third after what looked more like a push than a punch but he rallied strongly to still take a share of the round.

More boxing: See tomorrow's Daily Echo.