SPORTING three cuts across his face, Jamie Cox certainly resembled a man who had been involved in a fight on Saturday night.

Anyone at the National Indoor Arena though could tell you a different story as the Swindonian's professional education continued with a frustrating stalemate against the experienced Billy Smith.

Clearly out-classed from the start, Smith's messy, niggly manner prevented Cox from turning on the style, as did his tendency to run away at the first sign of trouble.

Cox was forced to go looking for the Stourport man, which inevitably saw him caught a couple of times, while his third facial injury was caused by his own glove blocking a rare Smith attack.

Despite the fighter's frustration, the night was still of positives though as Cox proved the step up to six rounds was no problem and also demonstrated his ability to change tactics when needed.

Winning every round comfortably, he certainly did enough to impress the watching Frank Warren, although never matching the thrilling tear up' between Amir Khan and Michael Gomez that was to follow.

Cox said: "I want to meet someone who is throwing punches back at me. I trained for a fight but I hit him to the body and he tried running. So I had to change tactics a little bit.

"I am trying to get all the angles instead of just staying there but there is definitely more to come. I am learning all the time.

"I don't know what he caught me with but he was a little bit messy. This is the pro game and you do anything to win.

"I cut myself with my own glove because I went to block him and hit myself. It is one of those things but it is another win for me."

One of the supposed golden generation set to lead his country to a glut of Olympic boxing medals in Beijing, Cox was joined by a couple of his former England teammates in Birmingham having also quit the paid ranks.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist was joined by fellow Melbourne maestro's Don Broadhurst and professional debutant Steven Smith as an appetiser to Amir Khan's main event and they played their part in warming up the vocal supporters.

Broadhurst and Cox comfortably earned points' wins while Smith's third round knock-out showed the Scouser is the latest with a big future in the sport.

"It was a great to be on the same bill as Don Broadhurst and Stevie Smith because it was like boxing with the same old people," he said. "It was like the old days.

"It shows what talent there is around in the sport and I just have to keep on top of things because I don't want to be left behind."

After five straight professional wins over four rounds, Cox believes Saturday night's display showed his best is still yet to come.

He said: "I prefer the longer rounds I have said that from the beginning. I like the fight and four rounds is just too quick. I can't wait to get up to 12 rounds you know. That is when I can really slow people down.

"When I hit them to the body they are not going to like that. I am starting to throw a lot more punches to the body now.

"But he was a tough cookie to crack. I really enjoyed it though I had good fans in Birmingham."