A BOXING match was halted when punches flew in the audience.

The last two bouts of the amateur boxing tournament held at the Trinity Club in Dorchester were cancelled by officials when an unscheduled fight broke out inside and surged outside onto the pavement.

Acting secretary of the Trinity Club Kenneth Cuff said: "Unfortunately there was a problem with the boxing which started inside the premises and spilled out into the street. It was nothing to do with the boxers themselves, it was people who had come to watch the tournament.

"The police were called and we were advised by them to shut the venue down in the interest of health and safety because the yobs spoilt the night and other people's safety had to be considered."

He added: "We know who was involved and will be dealing with that internally. From the club's point of view we're responsible for banning the people involved for a considerable period of time.

"We heard someone was hit so hard they were knocked out and the police were involved. It was a very unfortunate incident for us and for the boxing association. We feel very sorry for what happened to them."

Dorchester Amateur Boxing Club president Steve Scott said: "There was only half an hour of the tournament left and two bouts were called off because of a scuffle outside, one match was in progress when it happened and the other didn't get started at all.

"It was disappointing because one lad had come all the way from Waterlooville to compete, so he was disappointed that he was not going to box.

"But there's going to be a rematch for the two bouts cancelled taking place in Southampton this weekend."

Amateur boxers from Blandford, Waterlooville, Wells, Portsmouth, Barnstaple, Portland, Weymouth and Poole took part in the tournament hosted by the Dorchester club.

Mr Scott said the club was packed to capacity with an estimated 300 people either watching or taking part and many were undisturbed by the out of the ring punch-up.

He said: "People were watching the boxing and it was outside that there was fighting so I didn't see anything.

"It was a disappointing end to the night for them. Discipline and skill is what we try and teach and it's a lack of that by one or two people that caused problems."

He added: "It's the fourth time we've done it at the Trinity Club and we've never had trouble like this before."

A spokesman from Dorset Police said they were called to the club to deal with suspected trouble.