England Team slot for Healy
MACCLESFIELD Boys Boxing Club had two semi-finalists in action at the National Junior championship semifinals.
Firstly, Jessica Zolaski was scheduled to box Daisy Preston from Irlam ABC who unfortunately didn’t turn up – a huge disappointment for the Macclesfield boxer.
Bout 28 of 31 on the day saw national junior novice champion Tommy Healy ready to take on England international Joe Kerrison from Lowestoft ABC, who had previously boxed in Europe and Russia, so it was not going to be easy by any means.
Healy was very calm as both lads came together at the start and after instructions to wait and work on his counters, he set about drawing Kerrison in. That’s as exactly what he did, working his right hook and thunderous backhand left straight down the centre line and hitting home every time, frustrating Kerrison.
Healy had been practising stepping off to the right and throwing a short left hook from the backhand and this was executed to perfection in the second round.
Kerrison backed off a bit after feeling the force of that shot but it wasn’t for long and, not wanting to give the bout away, he came back stronger as Healy kept to the plan, keeping it long range thumping his shots in.
Kerrison had nothing to lose at the start of round three and it showed as he went hell for leather, throwing shot after shot, tracking Healy down.
With Healy tiring, Kerrison was catching more and the third round was Kerrison’s for sure, so the bell rang and the two boxers were brought to the centre of the ring.
The coaches were unsure as all the judges were from the southern region but Healy was declared the winner on a split decision.
As he stepped out of the ring he was approached by the top GB coach and handed a letter informing him he’d won his place on the England team in the three nations championship – an absolutely massive achievement.
Though the club has had lots of champions in the past with some representing England, none have been part of the England team in the three nations so he should be commended.