Home show is a great success for youngsters
ON Friday Earl Shilton and Barwell Boxing club staged a home show at Hinckley Rugby Club in conjunction with the Heart of England Boxing Club.
On a packed 16 bout card, seven Earl Shilton and Barwell BC fights were in action.
First up representing the home club was Samson Maughan take on Billy Hunt of Pinxton ABC. The schools bout was scheduled for 3 x 1 minutes rounds. Over the 3 rounds Maughan displayed good footwork. Boxing from a southpaw stands Maughan landed clean shots to the head and body and had this been a scoring contest he would have got the nod from the judges.
In the second schoolboys bot home boxer Alex Doherty squared off against Finley Henry of Warwick ABC. The bout was also scheduled for 3 x 1 minute rounds. Doherty started brightly with a good jab. Over the three rounds he looked the stronger boxer and display some good attacking shots. With a hands down style Henry was able to connect with clean shots of his own and there is maybe some learning here for Doherty.
Next up was home boxer George Knight in his first competitive bout against Oliver Green from Adcock Green ABC. This was a junior contest set over 3 x 2 minute rounds.
In a competitive opening round Green was slightly more on the front foot and demonstrated good technique which helped him edge the round. Knowing he needed to win the second a more determined Knight forced his way back into the bout landing several strong jabs which caused Greens nose to bleed. Knight took the round which set up a deciding final round.
With both boxers seeking the win it was a tight, competitive third. Knight landed a few more solid shots and the ringside doctor has to check Greens nose due to the volume of blood. At the final bell Knight had edged a close split decision win.
Home boxer Lewis Veasey was next up in a 3 x 2 minute junior contest against Joshua Watson of Rugleys ABC. Veasey worked well with his jab in the first round and controlled the action. Landing good clean back hands as well. Watson tried to force the fight in the second and there were some wild exchanges. Both boxers landed clean shots and at one point a stiff backhand from Veasey momentarily shook his opponent.
More frantic exchanges took place in the final round and Watson getting the upper hand as Veasey appeared to tire. Veasey landed a big hook and uppercut to slow Greens attacks and as the final bell rang the crowd showed their appreciation. After the judges’ cards were counted Veasey had won by a split decision.
Current Novice junior East midlands champion Hayley Magney (home boxer) faced Louis Clark of Darlaston ABC. This junior contest was scheduled for 3 x 2 minute rounds. Magney boxing out of the southpaw stance was elusive from the start. While Clark tried to land Magney was quick to counter and landed some eye catching shot to take the first round.
Round two saw more of the same with Magney raising the tempo and landing sharp concussive backhands that slowed his opponent.
Magney again raised the level in the final session with 3 and 4 punch combinations that went unanswered. Clark was spirited and resilient but was no match for the quicker Magney. In a commanding performance Magney ran out a clear unanimous point winner.
Earl Shilton and Barwell second Novice regional champion Jack Whitehead was next in action. Whitehead face off against Isacc White from Far Cotton ABC over 3 x 2 minute rounds.
White the taller boxer kept Whitehead at distance over the first and edge the round having landed more jabs. Needing to win second Whitehead pressed the action and let flurries go. Both boxers had their success with Whiteheads work rate and pressure giving him the round in an exciting and close contest.
The third produced fantastic action from both boxers with solid shots landing. Whitehead was clearly hurting his opponent to the body and was told by the ref to stop taunting his opponent.
Whitehead looked stronger and as the final bell rang the bout was so close you could be forgiven for deciding the winner on the toss of a coin. Judges scored the bout via a tight split to White who looked relieved at the decision.
The final home boxer in action was Louis Sheehan in his second senior bout. Sheehan faced off against the shorter Sabhan Rehman of Derby city boxing.
The bout was scheduled for 3 x 2 minute rounds. Sheehan boxed on the move in the first as his opponent attempted to apply pressure. Sheehan’s cleaner, better-timed shots edged him the round. Rehman started the second with more purpose closing the range and making the fight messy at close quarters.
This nullified Sheehan range punches and though not hurt by these attacks it meant that the bout would be decided on the third and final round. Rehman still tried to force the fight by walking forward with a high guard. Sheehan start to trade with him and dig in uppercuts to the head and body.
The action was back and forth with both boxers having success. It became more about will than skill as the round wore on and Sheehans determination was probably the deciding factor as the home fans cheered him on. As the final bell rang the venue erupted with applause.
The judges gave Sheehan the nod on a split decision which brough a close to a fantastic night of boxing for the home club.
The following evening saw Samson Maughan compete in his second schools skills bout over 3 x 1 minute rounds. His opponent Cierean Hogan of Warrick ABC was taller with the potential to box at range.
Over the 3 rounds Maughan boxed to instruction and look impressive with his foot movement showing the previous evenings work wasn’t a one off.
On the same show Earl Shilton and Barwell boxer Georgia Sutton competed in a Schools skills contest against Royal Leamington Spa’s Sienna Knight.
This was Sutton’s second skills contest having been impressive in her debut a week earlier. In an even contest both girls boxed well and landed solid shits. At times the referee has to tell both to keep the power down as they let heavy shots go.
After the 3 x 1 and a half minute rounds were completed, both girls had acquitted themselves well and are likely to meet again at some point in the future.
This was a particularly proud day for the home club as Sutton became the first juvenile female to represent the club on a home show.
• See next week’s Hinckley Times to see how the Heart of England boxers fared in their bouts.