TAMPERE TRIUMPH
Some quality match ups as the Army takes on Tampere in Finland, writes Jamie Ingleby
THE first bouts of the season for the Army Boxing Team following the summer break were held in Tampere, Finland, a straight team match between the ABT and TVS Tampere.
The bouts were evenly matched and closely contested. Contested on a Saturday afternoon in the city centre shopping mall the show had an excellent atmosphere with lots of local support.
At bantamweight Kyle Morrison, the current Welsh champion, nullified Wael Al Khaghani’s advances with his movement and controlled the bout throughout. The performance saw him awarded boxer of the match.
Following a lengthy lay off due to injury Kaz Artingstall made a winning return to the ring at 57kgs, taking a unanimous decision over her Finnish opponent Swera Abdul mo ham mad if ar in an excellent opening contest. Kaz started cautiously but soon began to find her rhythm and range against the non-stop Finnish boxer.
In a closely contested welterweight battle which saw nonstop action from start to finish, the home boxer and crowd favourite
Elina Gustafsson (who has campaigned mainly at 75kg) used her strength to take the decision at the final bell over Stephanie Wroe.
In a contest of two halves the home boxer Niazz Ahmadi took a close decision over lightweight
Junior Burton to level the team match. The judges preferring the Finn’s movement and single shots from range over the Army boxer’s workrate and inside boxing. Also at lightweight Army stalwart
Alanna Nihell took on Mira Potkonen, the boxer who ended Katie Taylor’s double Olympic Dream and recently beat Kellie Harrington. Nihell pushed her all
‘EXCELLENT ATMOSPHERE WITH LOTS OF LOCAL SUPPORT’
the way in her first contest at 60kgs in over two years, but the Finn hasn’t lost since the Rio Olympics and showed why in the final round to put the Tampere side in front in the team contest.
The final bout, at 69kgs, between the highly regarded Muhammad Abdilrasoon and Scottish international Sean Eng was beginning to catch fire with both boxers starting to find the target. But at the end of the first round they clashed heads which resulted in a nasty cut above the Scot’s eye. The Army corner sensibly retired their man to save further damage to the eye and avoid a potentially lengthy lay off. Butt meant in the home side took the team trophy.
The return fixture in the UK is in November at ITC Caterick where the Army will welcome the Finns in hope of revenge and levelling the series.