NEWPORT’S Craig Woodruff boosted his chances of landing a shot at the British lightweight title after a six-round shutout of previously unbeaten Faycal Rezkallah in Cardiff, writes David Williams.

In his first fight for more than a year, Woodruff outclassed the Frenchman at Vale Sports Arena, winning every round to claim an 11th victory in the paid ranks.

Woodruff, 29, went into the bout on Wales’ first professional show since March 2020 knowing victory was paramount in his quest to land the coveted Lonsdale Belt.

Rezkallah continually came forward and proved extremely tough, showing tremendous heart when hurt in the third and fifth rounds.

But Woodruff (11-6), who is vying for British honours with fellow Welshman Gavin Gwynne and English champion Myron Mills, won every session to get a 60-54 verdict from referee Chris Jones.

“My sights are now set firmly on the British lightweight title,” said Woodruff after his impressive performance in the capital.

Pontypool super-welterweight Kieran Gething (10-2-2) also made a successful comeback in Cardiff.

The 27-year-old, who had been out of action since November 2019, shook of the ring rust to outpoint Manchester’s Josh Cook over four rounds (40-37).

And Newport super-middleweight Kyran Jones got his pro career up and running in style with a four-round points victory against Slovakia’s Michael Gazdik.

All seven Welsh fighters on the Mo Prior promotion tasted success.

Rhoose’s Jay Munn (5-0), who like Woodruff had fought on that last show before the first Covid-19 lockdown, had too much in his locker for Lancashire’s Seamus Devlin.

Ammanford’s Jake Anthony (7-1), whose last outing two years ago saw him miss out on the Welsh super-middleweight crown to Morgan Jones, stopped Hungarian journeyman Norbert Szekeres in three rounds.

Jason Sillett, from Barry, was back in the ring after more than four years away. He won all six rounds against winless Carl Turney to end a run of two defeats and take his record to 6-2.

And another debutant, Swansea’s Ben Crocker, beat another journeyman, Blackburn’s Naeem Ali, on points over four rounds (40-36).

The next show in Wales is at the same Cardiff venue on October 8 and features Welshmen Lloyd Germain, Jordan Withers, Joshua John, Tony Dixon, Jake Tinklin and Ryan Pocock.