Youngsters showcase their boxing talents at home show
SATURDAY saw Earl Shilton and Barwell boxing club host a day of Amateur boxing at Hinckley football ground, writes Ian Weston.
To open the show disability athlete Amy Garner gave the crowd a demonstration of shadow boxing, skipping, pad work and her sparring skills. Garner even managed to get a couple of solid shots on her coach’s nose.
There were then two schools skills bout debuts for the home team. Patrick Harty squared off against Alderacres boxer Pearson at 32 kgs. Both boxers performed well with praise going to Harty for good head movement and throwing a series of combinations while in close.
The UB skills boxer Mia Sullivan took on the home shows youngest female athlete Frankie Li Baum at 11 years of age. Baum was the aggressor through out showing a determination to get close to her opponent and let her shots flow. Work on defence needed with lots of potential for the future.
In her second schools bout as an amateur, Earl Shilton and Barwell’s Georgia Sutton faced off against Boston town’s, Melita Sablinskaite at 46 kg. The opening round was a frantic affair with Sablinskaite looking to box on the back foot. Sutton the shorter of the two forced the pace pinning her opponent several times on the ropes and unloading successive blows to the head. As the bell sounded on an action-packed round Sutton had the advantage.
Round two saw Salinskaite trying to force the fight and there were tremendous exchanges with both boxers throwing and neither wanting give ground. Half way through Sutton suffered an injury to the nose and after consulting with the ringside Doctor the referee stopped the bout due to injury. A disappointing end to a fantastic bout.
After suffering defeat in his first bout Finn Wheeler showed the home crowd the determination he
had to improve. He squared off in a school bout against Dorian Brooks of South Derbyshire boxing club. Giving away just under 2 kg in weight Wheeler was lighter on his feet and boxed at range with his Southpaw stance. While his lead hand was still a bit low that didn’t stop him landing some clinical straight backhands to catch the judges eye. Wheeler appeared to have scored a knockdown in the second when a back hand and hook landed on his opponent but the referee ruled a slip.
Undeterred Wheeler continued to box well against his stubborn opponent. With the cleaner shots and better boxing Wheeler secured a well earn victory and a few tears of joy were shed as the celebrations started.
Weighing in at 71kg home boxer Ollie Neal made his boxing debut against Alderacre’s Brandon Bell in a youth contest. In what was a scrappy affair both boxers took turns to land big shots. Neal trying to force the pace looked to have blown a gasket in the second and Bell whilst tired and untidy probably landed the cleaner punches. The third was another disjointed round with both boxers having mixed success and Neal exhausted at the finish. The Judges gave the decision to Neal on a split in a bout that could have easily been given the other way without
complaint. A good first bout experience and fitness defiantly an area to work on.
After competing in 3 Skills contests Lily Mae-Bateman was the third home female boxer in action in a junior contest against Laila Johnson of Fan Academy. The bout was made at 49 kilos with the away boxer being more experienced. Bateman looking to use her height advantage was positive during the opening session. Boxing at a pace she repeatedly landed an excellent jab, setting the tone for the bout. While her opponent had some success Bateman landed with the backhand to force her opponent onto the back foot.
Rounds two and three followed suit with both boxers applying themselves well but Bateman getting the better of the exchanges and controlling the bout. After the final bell had sounded the referee raised Batemans hand as a winner on all 3 judges cards.
Junior home Boxer George Knight racked up another win with a tight decision against Max Wood of Wyrley Green. Woods started well and took the opening round with smarter boxing and cleaner shots. Needing to win the second to say in the contest Knight got out of second gear and started to land some telling blows. While the boxing wasn’t pretty it was effective and the bout had to be briefly stopped while the referee check the blood that was pouring from Woods nose.
With the bout hanging in the balance the third saw another fast paced round with both boxers digging deep. Knight was wild at times but sheer determination and persistence drove home on to a to split decision victory and his record now stands at five wins with only a single defeat.
Home boxer Jack Whitehead put in a stellar performance against Nuneaton ABC’s Ben Bennet at 65kg. This youth bout saw Whitehead use good head movement to slip shots fired from range by his
opponent. Whitehead would then sink in body shots and hooks in quick bursts to show his dominance. Dominate through Whitehead had returned to his normal action style after recovering from a back injury. Once the three entertaining rounds were complete the stronger Whitehead secured a unanimous points decision.
Kian Hunter (70kg) made his senior home debut against Fair Cotton’s Kokou. Both boxers were 19 years of age. Hunter a shirt stocky boxer secured a first-round knockdown with a good combination to his opponents head. Further big hooks and backhands followed and Hunter took the opening round. Kokou came back strong in the second with a good skill and landed the cleaner blows while the stronger Hunter always remained a threat with solid powerful shots. Both boxers tired in the third in what was a thrilling contest. As the final bell sounded a tight contest was edged by Kokou with his tidier boxer giving him the marginal win.
Top of the bill saw fan favourite senior Louis Sheehan 56 kg take on away boxer Jagiot Hands of Wellington. From the outset it was clear that Hands was the more traditional boxer looking to box at range with straight shots.
This tactic paid him in good stead when he took the opening round. Sheehan’s awkward style started to cause Hand problems in the second. His persistent aggression started to take effect with several of Sheehans shots landing cleanly. With the bout in the balance the third round is usually when Sheehan goes up the gears but time away from the gym meant his engine was quite firing on all cylinders. After a tight final session the away boxer took the decision in an excellent bout.