Night of rematches a huge hit for Hamer
HAMER Amateur Boxing Club held their annual boxing show in front of a sell-out crowd at Richmond Hall, Rochdale recently – and what a night it was!
A number of Hamer boxers were in action and the first to step into the ring for Hamer was 10-year-old Austin “Powers” Heneghan who was boxing a return bout against Blake Twist of Stubby’s Gym.
The bout was the only “Skills” bout of the night where nobody gains a decision, but had there been a verdict then it would have surely gone to the Hamer youngster who used his excellent punching skills and terrific footwork to take the fight to his opponent throughout all three rounds.
Next up for Hamer was 11-year-old “Champagne” Charlie Braddock, who also took the fight to his opponent, Joseph Stott of Stubby’s Gym, throughout the full three rounds to take a unanimous decision from all three judges.
“Big” Ben Braddock came next but sadly he was pipped at the post by James Smith of Love ABC.
Another return bout was presented to the boisterous crowd and 13-yearold Louis “One One Eight” Humphreys didn’t disappoint when he used his outstanding reach to constantly push his much taller opponent, Sonny Heneghan of Stubby’s Gym, around the ring to take the verdict by a split decision.
The only female bout of the night saw Hamer’s 12-year-old National Champion Allana “Top Banana” Shaw meet Libby Frost of Beartown ABC in another return bout.
The first bout between the pair was a very close affair in which Frost pushed Allana around the ring throughout the fight on her home show and although Allana gained a very close split-decision, the Hamer coaches knew that they would have to work on new tactics within the gym if they were to repeat the same success.
Allana came out for the first round full of confidence and it immediately showed when she constantly landed straight punches to the head of her opponent before stepping out of range from Frost’s swinging arms.
Allana then moved into range again to land more skillful combinations.
Throughout the bout the Hamer lass showed why she had become national champion as she impressed the crowd with skills, so advanced for one so young, to take a clear cut verdict by unanimous decision.
The sixth Hamer boxer to step into the ring on the night was 16-year-old Grant “Quick Gun” Kershaw, who was also boxing in a return bout against the NABGC North West Regional Champion Hasseb Khan of Premier Boxing Club. The bell rang for the first round and Kershaw immediately showed his intentions by shooting out his quick fire jab and one-two combinations to constantly knock his opponent’s head back to win by unanimous decision.
Monir “Real Money” Miah 17, stepped into the ring next when matched in another rematch against Tauseef Suleman of KBW Dewsbury Boxing Club.
The first match between the pair was an all out war and although Monir won a very close decision the Hamer coaches worked on him using his boxing ability by finding his opponent with his jab before stepping out of range to make Suleman miss then stepping into the line of fire to unload crisp one-two combinations to the head. This was the tactic used throughout all three rounds and the boisterous crowd showed their appreciation by shouting him on as the Hamer boxer using quick hands and swift footwork to land and stay out of range to win the bout by split-decision.
The climax of the night was the last bout of the evening when 22-year-old Hamer boxer Husnain “Dennis” Ali met the Senior Development Northwest Regional Champion Tommy Connors of Littleborough Boxing Club in a local clash for bragging rights. On the sound of the first bell Husnain came out to constantly pursue his rival and force him onto the ropes to unload hurtful hooks to both the body and head. Connors tried to fire back but Husnain landed a terrific left hook to the jaw which knocked Connors head back and his mouth guard came flying out into the crowd.
The Hamer corner thought the referee was going to administer a standing eight count but all he did was to allow Connors’ corner to replace his mouth guard before allowing the action to proceed. By now the noise inside the room was deafening and both boxers were given a warning by the referee for not listening to his commands.
The Hamer boxer forced the action again in the second round and Connors tried to match him with blows of his own as the crowd screamed out in appreciation.
As the bout progressed Connors began to tire and he began to hold onto the Hamer boxer, yet it was Husnain who received a public warning for the use of his head.
In the third and last round Husnain continued to chase Connors around the ring whilst landing blow after blow upon his opponent. By now Connors was totally exhausted and he continued to hold whilst Husnain landed punishing blows to take the bout by split-decision.
The night was rounded off when some former Hamer boxers were asked to step into the ring to present the annual awards and multiple National Champions. Tony and Darren Connellan did the honors along with legendary Hamer coach Terry Hernon, who trained Rochdale’s only Olympic boxer, Kevin Taylor.
The first Hamer boxer to receive an award was Aeron “The Viking” Maddocks, who sadly didn’t box that night because his opponent pulled out at the last minute. Aeron was awarded the Joe Lancaster recognition memorial cup for his unrivaled commitment to gym work and his hunger to progress.
The next award was the Johnny Butterworth cup for the most improved and dedicated prospect of the year, which went to “Champagne” Charlie Braddock.
The Dennis Connellan memorial shield for best Hamer boxer of the year went to Allana “Top Banana” Shaw for winning the National Title and the Johnny Butterworth memorial shield for best boxer of the night went to the boxer who opened the show that night, Austin “Powers” Heneghan.
Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said: “It was the night of rematches for this famous boxing club of ours which produced top quality entertainment because every bout was evenly matched and could have gone either way on paper. The crowd made for a fantastic atmosphere and I believe everybody got their money’s worth but what did it for me was the passing remark by one of our regular supporters who said ‘What a night that was. The best one yet’.”