Victorious homecoming for Dunne

Dubliner Bernard Dunne made a victorious return to his native city last night, as he claimed a fifth round decision over Jim Betts of England at the National Stadium.

The 25-year-old picked up a fifteenth straight professional win as Betts was craftily knocked out, having been stung by a left hook to the body after 1:06 of the fifth round.

Betts - with 18 wins from 21 fights in his armoury - left Dunne with a slight cut over his left eye in the second round, but the two-time Irish amateur champion - out of action with a right hand injury since last August - was never in trouble, and ruled it out afterwards as an accidental clash of heads.

"Jim was a tough opponent - I definitely needed this first fight back," claimed Dunne. "The cut wasn't deliberate - we smacked heads. But I couldn't ask for a better performance. The crowd were fantastic and I was delighted to win in front of them."

His promoted Brian Peters is looking for a "bigger venue" for Dunne's next fight, but "we will will definitely be staying in this country," said the Meath man.

On the under-card, Jim 'The Pink Panther' Rock retained his Irish Super middleweight title with a seventh round stoppage of the durable Peter Jackson.

Former Olympian Francie Barrett - now resident in London - earned a hard-fought points decision over Lithuanian Oscar Milkitas, while there were also wins for Dublin welterweight Robbie Murray - with a points decision over Ceri Hall - and 2004 Irish amateur flyweight champion Paul Hyland, who picked up a second win in only his second pro fight as Slovakia's Vladimir Bukovy was counted out in the third round.

Dublin-born heavyweight Colin Kenna - a brother of Irish soccer international Jeff - also drew with Paul King of Sheffield.