POWER, pressure and poise graced a new York martial arts venture.

T-Bone Promotions - the creation of multi world kickboxing champion Tony Dias - took its bow with its debut show at York's Energise centre and paraded a night of toe-toe-toe tussles and thrills in front of a 500-strong crowd.

Heading the inaugural excitement was the outing of Stu Phillips, a recently crowned world professional champion, who was fighting under "The Hunter" nickname for the first time in recognition of his sponsorship deal from Kevin Hollinrake, of York-based Hunters the Estate Agents.

And it was a dreadnought debut. Phillips totally mastered his Hull-based opponent Chris Dolman from the Fight Ministry, taking all five two-minute rounds to seize the pro full contact kickboxing duel by an emphatic unanimous verdict.

There was another convincing display in The Coliseum 78-kilogramme K1 title fight between Ollie Stansfield of the Powerhouse Fight Club in Manchester and Gary Benton of the York Legions Club.

Benton was crowned the winner on points after taking two of the three rounds.

His Legions' team-mate Fran Kitson stopped Leeds Cage fighter Craig Jackson in the first round of their 'C' class Thai boxing bout, while another Legions contender, Ian Houillebecq, stopped Danny Zuko of the War Dogs gym in the third round of an 'A' class tussle after sending his opponent to the canvas three times.

The duel between two amateur world champions - Lewis Smith of Dias' United Martial Arts College and Stu Smith of Kick UK in Leeds - was a nip and tuck affair that controversially went to the Leeds man on a majority points verdict, while the judges deemed a draw between Jamie Kirby of Longs BlackBelt club in York and Matt Hallam of the Nottinghamshire St George's Kickboxing Club.

Legions' Jordan Carr suffered athird round stoppage by Chris Marsden of Leeds Cage, while the all-York boxing showdown between Dean McQuade of Legions and UMAC'S Nik Pavlovets went to the more composed McQuade on a third-round stoppage.

In the opening junior contest, Legions' Keegan Green was beaten by Connor Andrew.

Said Dias: "It was a really great first show with several very close contests that were appreciated by a knowledgeable crowd."