FURNESS Rovers and Vickerstown swapped football boots for boxing gloves as the two clubs went head-to-head in the ring in a special fund-raising fight night.

Rovers' Joshua Jones, who also boxes for Barrow ABC, and Vickerstown's Jay Rutherford set up the event to help provide a financial boost for both clubs, with the card at Cloud Nine featuring nine contests and raising more than £4,000 from ticket sales alone.

Both sets of fighters were prepared by Barrow ABC head coach Jeff Moses, and Barrow professional boxer Ross Cooksey took on the role of referee for the evening.

Jones was delighted with the success of the night.

“We were really struggling and held a meeting to come up with fund-raising ideas,” said Jones.

“I have a massive passion for both sports and thought there was an opportunity there to do something, we just needed a club to compete against, and Vickerstown came forward.

“I have huge respect for everyone that stepped in the ring, it takes a lot of guts and they all did really well.”

Rovers were overall victors on the night, securing the team belt with four wins to two.

However, it was Vickerstown who got off to the better start thanks to Dave Round Jnr's third-round stoppage win over Ash Allenby.

Owen Griffiths survived a strong opening round from Vickerstown boss Dave Round Snr to control rounds two and three, securing a points victory and getting one back for Furness.

Danny Keenan and Jake Vial went toe-to-toe in their contest, which was ultimately scored as a draw by the judges, despite Keenan being knocked down in round two.

Ryan Barker put Furness in front after a second-round stoppage against Scott Hammond, who suffered a dislocated shoulder while landing a straight right.

Rovers' Joe Bradbury scored a second-round stoppage victory too, with a powerful shot which rocked opponent Sam Johnson.

And the win for Furness was sealed in the penultimate fight of the night as Tyler Woods got the nod from the judges in his contest with Danny Cummins.

There were two inter-club bouts on the card as well, which saw Andy Ireland take a decision victory over Vickerstown team-mate Ian Rogers and Chris Gunson defeat fellow Furness man Ben Carr.