BOXING: Stourport welterweight boxer Ernie Smith slipped to a 60-56 points defeat at the hands of Chesterfield's unbeaten Darrell Grafton at the Metrodome Centre, Barnsley.

Smith made the better start as a busy left jab kept the tall Grafton at bay and a hard right to the chin served as an early wake-up call.

Grafton began to raise his game in the next and left Smith with a bloody nose after a mini-flurry.

The action was far from one-way though and the round ended with Grafton backed onto the ropes.

The closing rounds went the way of Grafton but Smith still popped in the occasional hard left.