STOURPORT welterweight Ernie Smith picked up just the fourth draw of his 96-fight professional career at Cleethorpes Winter Gardens, earning a 57-57 share of the spoils against Epworth's Davy Jones.

Smith had to overcome a cut beneath his right eye, suffered towards the end of a bad-tempered fourth round.

Having frustrated the well-supported local fav-ourite throughout with a staccato jab, there was no doubt Smith deserved a draw, despite the protests of Jones and his team.

The Epworth man had looked promising earlier on in his career but his form has slipped a little in recent bouts and he is now without a victory in his last four contests.

There were those at ringside who felt Smith's more aggressive stance should have earned him the decision of Doncaster referee Dean Bramhald, but he seemed happy with the score as he sets his sights on bout number 100.

This was Smith's 11th bout of the year so far, giving him the chance to pass that milestone in the not too distant future.