GABRIEL STUNNED

Noakes takes big win on Heart of Portsmouth show

STERLING work within the local community reaped rich reward for Quinton “Q” Shillingford and Heart of Portsmouth, staging a sparkling 20 bout sell-out show at the Pyramid Leisure centre.

The event even produced a shock finale, with bill topper Jacob Gabriel (Basingstoke) crumbling to an unexpected third session defeat at the fists of Westree’s unsung Sam Noakes. The demise of Basingstoke’s Gabriel at the 1-19 mark came despite an impressive start. Jacob’s economical pro style troubled Noakes early doors. His neat jab continually penetrated Sam’s guard. He comfortably returned to his stool with a solid first stanza lead. From then on it all went pearshaped. Determined and insistent charges from Noakes gradually drew the strength from Gabriel. With everything to play for in the last, Noakes was not to be denied. A follow up assault completed the job.

Team Wiseman provided a star. Schoolboy Vernon Hallawell, a sharp southpaw, put his shots together smartly to end the challenge of Fishergate’s Maxwell Cole just 48 seconds into round two. Cole was simply no match for Hallawell. Two mandatory tolls, one in each round, did the damage.

HOP portsider Sonny Driscoll, nephew of Micky and cousin of Charlie, got involved in a firefight with Chard’s Fire Virk. Sonny’s habit of carrying his hands too low cost him. Sustaining a first session standing count was hardly the ideal start. Virk won unanimously.

Fishergate’s Callum King and Kenzie Barnard, representing Team Wiseman, also served up a war, with King emerging victorious. A third round mandatory toll on Barnard just swung it Callum’s way on a unanimous decision.

Danson’s Rosie Boyton certainly knew she was a long way from home in her bout with home boxer Tilly Hymers. Roared on by her sizeable fan club, Tilly pushed forward relentlessly, yet found Boyton a shade too slick. Rosie picked up a unanimous nod.