Yet another champ from Hamer stable
IT is a fantastic end to the year for Hamer Amateur Boxing Club when they gained another national champion in 19-yearold super-heavyweight ‘Mighty’ Mehran Khan, who won the Boys and Girls Clubs 91+kg National Championship title beating Dennis Sparkes, of Horsley Hill Boxing Amateur Club, by unanimous decision at the Lancastrian Suite in Gateshead.
From the first bell the much stockier Horsley opponent showed his intentions when he continually pushed forward to take the fight to his Hamer competitor.
Although Mehran was physically smaller than his opponent, he did have his reach advantage which he tried to use to keep his opponent at bay, but Sparkes continued to force Khan on to the ropes where he began to unload heavy blows.
At first the round seemed to be going in Sparkes’ favour as he continued to push forward, but as the round progressed the Hamer youth began to find his rhythm.
Before the bell rang for round two Khan was told by his coach, Steven Connellan, to continue to keep his distance but to use the jab more effectively.
Khan stepped out intent on building on his lead and while he maintained his distance he continuously snapped out a fast uninterrupted jab which jolted his opponent’s head back.
Sparkes was stubborn and he never took a backward step but as he began to get into range Khan shot out four straight, unanswered punches which all connected.
As the round progressed both boxers were beginning to tire and a whole new affair began to take shape when Sparkes landed a crunching right hook.
He forced Khan on to the ropes and he began landing crunching blows to both the body and head but when the ten second warning came to end the round it was the Hamer youth who showed great determination when he landed four more sharp unanswered punches to the head on the sound of the bell.
At the start of the third and last round Khan landed a heavy right hand to the jaw. Although tired, the Hamer youth continued to use the ring to his advantage while using his long range jab and in the end it was his boxing ability saw him through to have his hand raised as the new 2017 National Champion.
ON the same bill was another Hamer finalist in 18-year-old Bethany ‘Pickle’ Connellan, who lost to the four-time National Champion Niamh McGuckin of Berinsfield ABC, Oxford, in a contest that saw the Hamer lass constantly take the fight to her opponent.
She was pipped at the post by McGuckin’s ring experience and heavier punches.
Hamer coach Alan Bacon said: “I feel for Bethany because she has not boxed for well over a year due to injury. We were hoping to get more competitive matches for her before she met the champion, but sadly it never happened.”