DEVELOPING CLASS

The novice boxers to look out for in this year’s tournament MERRIDALE welter Conah Walker is still on course for back-to-back Development titles in Class B after a split points win over Jack Corrie (Stockbridge) in the pre quarter finals at Newdigate WMC. Walker was the aggressor throughout a bout that was often untidy. Corrie looked to catch Walker on the way in with his right hand, but struggled to pull the trigger as Walker closed the gap fast, got inside and unloaded furiously to body and head.

The slick and busy Leonardo Fanthome (Redditch) went through at 64kgs after the best bout in Class B. Fanthome won a deserved unanimous decision, but Jack Goetzee (No Limits), cut on the left eyebrow in the second round, was always in the fight and dangerous on the counter with left hooks.

In Class B there wasn’t much between James Cunningham (Orme) and Golden Gloves southpaw Harry Evans. Evans won unanimously, but it was close.

Punch of the day was thrown by Reece Burns (Gemini) in Class A at 52kgs. Early in the third, Burns stepped outside a lazy jab thrown by Bilal Ahmed (Studio) and fired a right hand to the chin to drop the Midlander. The referee reached ‘four’ and waved it off.

In Class A at 81kgs Tamworth’s David Butlin outpointed Genadis Krasevikij (Golden Gloves) unanimously. The tremendously strong Krasevikij put his head down and steamed into Butlin, putting everything into every punch. Butlin boxed sharply in and out and when he was forced into the ropes or corners, he slammed back.

Nick Leahy (Fitzpatricks) is looking good at 64kgs. He outjabbed Anthony Welsh (Sefton) on the way to a split points win.

At 81kgs George Franklin (Warley) came under heavy fire from Huyton beanpole Christian Dick. He kept his cool and opened up. A thumping right hand buckled Dick’s knees, forcing a count and the stoppage. Franklin celebrated with a back flip.