Hamer youngsters Adam and Aeron battle way to finals
TWO Hamer boxers progressed into the North West Region Schoolboy Boxing Championship Finals with two outstanding semi-final performances.
First on was 14-yearold Adam ‘Little Red’ Earnshaw who used excellent counterpunching to beat Reece Boswell of Blackpool Kingscote boxing club by unanimous decision.
Next on for Hamer was 14-year-old Aeron ‘The Viking’ Maddocks who used the ring to his advantage while also showing a fine display of boxing to beat Luke Pedley of Fit-2-XL Boxing Club by unanimous decision.
Both boxers didn’t have much time to enjoy their victory’s because the very next day, Saturday 29th, both of them had to travel to the same venue at the 147 Club in Salford to compete in the final.
It was Adam ‘Little Red’ Earnshaw n who was the first to step inside the ring for Hamer when he met the challenge of Hasan Khan of Sandygate Boxing Club
On the sound of the first bell Earnshaw stepped into the middle of the ring to allow Khan to throw his punches first before stepping out of range to make the Sandygate boxer miss. The Hamer boxer then moved back into range to unload fast counter-punches to the head. This went on throughout the round with Khan missing and Earnshaw landing swift counter-punches.
In the second round Earnshaw began by taking the lead with his jab.
He was hoping that Khan would answer him with punches, which he did and the Hamer boxer began to punish him again with swift counter-punches. Adam continued with the tactics implemented by his coach, they where working so he didn’t need to make any changes but as the round progressed Khan began to back off a little so Earnshaw began to force the pressure more with heavier punching.
The power punching continued in the third and last round with Earnshaw continuing to force the pace of the fight with fast and accurate punches to the head. Khan was continually forced to the ropes by Earnshaw who maintained his work rate throughout to take the decision and the Northwest Region 43kg Class B title by unanimous decision.
Next on was Aeron ‘The Viking’ Maddocks who had a major task ahead of him in Danny Robb of Sharpstyle Boxing Club, who is the reigning National Champion.
In the first round Maddocks showed that he wasn’t overawed by Robb’s reputation when he began to take the fight to the National Champion.
Robb used a very fast one-two punch combination that landed to the face of the Hamer boxer but Aeron answered him with swift punches of his own.
The round continued with Maddocks trying to force the pace and it wasn’t long before Robb realised that he was in a competitive bout.
In the second round Robb came out with more intent and he immediately took the fight to Maddocks as he continually caught the Hamer youngster to the head. It looked as though Robb was about to step away with the contest but the Hamer boxer showed real grit and determination to continue to force the action and he began to match Robb with connecting punches of his own.
In the third and last round Robb’s class began to show a little when he landed swift counter-punches as Maddocks stepped into range.
The Hamer lad continued to try and force the fight in what was a fantastic display of boxing from both boxers, but in the end the more experienced boxer was awarded the victory by unanimous decision.
Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said “It was a great achievement for Adam Earnshaw, who has now gone on to win three Northwest Region Titles in succession and as for Aeron Maddocks, he will gain nothing but great experience by boxing and competing against a National Champion who knew he was in a contest.”
The day wasn’t over for Hamer Boxing Club. Straight after the Championships they travelled to the Middleton Arena with 15-year- old Grant ‘Quick Gun’ Kershaw who also put in a brilliant display of boxing against Darren Youd of Bridgewater Salford to win by unanimous decision.