A VERY successful week for boxing in Barrow concluded with Mike McGoldrick and Ross Cooksey both maintaining their undefeated professional records at a show at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Six days after their friend Liam Conroy reached the semi-finals of MTK Global's light heavyweight Golden Contract tournament, 'Goldie' and 'The Boss' were both in action at a venue that has become familiar to them.

They were able to round off years that have had their frustrations due to injury and show signs that bigger and better things might be around the corner in 2020.

It's been a year of change for super featherweight Cooksey, who signed up with MTK, and Preston-based trainer Johnney Roye after taking some time out of the ring to start a family with his fiancé.

He had to wait five months for his bout against Liverpool's Ricky Starkey, himself a late replacement for Nabil Ahmed, after a fractured wrist set him back during the autumn.

However, he showed he has lost none of the spring in his step, as he out-boxed Starkey across four rounds to comfortably take a 40-36 points victory and earn his eighth professional win on the trot.

McGoldrick's fight against Leeds' Harry Matthews, which was scheduled for six rounds, didn't even reach a third of the way towards its intended distance, as he earned an explosive stoppage in the second.

The 34-year-old light heavyweight now has six wins from six bouts as a pro, although even he was surprised how quickly his latest victory came about.

McGoldrick said: "It felt like I hadn't been in a fight after the bell went. I wanted to get a few more rounds in under my belt, but it is what it is.

"I hit him with a good shot and it took him a few seconds to react before he took a knee and that was that. I seem to have found a way to keep stopping people, which is good.

"I went out in the first round looking to establish my jab, take the centre of the ring and just see what he had - the first round is generally one where you're feeling your opponent out.

"In the second round, you sort of build up the pace, so I was really surprised that I got him out there so quickly. I hit him with the shot and I saw his eyes roll into the back of his head. I thought I'd hurt him so I kept the pressure on him, but I didn't really get a chance to hit him again after that, so I was surprised."

McGoldrick is trying to get himself into title contention, but neither of the two six-round bouts he's had have gone the distance, meaning he wants to get more rounds in the tank in the future.

On what's next for him, McGoldrick said: "I haven't been told anything yet, but I think we're looking to do something around February or March time.

"We haven't had any solid dates yet, but I'll just have to see what Johnney says when I see him in a week's time."