Fitness key to Coates’ victory
MACCLESFIELD Boys’ Boxing Club were in action on an Eccles ABC show on Saturday as Sam Coates was taking on unbeaten rival Chris Moorhouse.
The atmosphere was fantastic as they home crowd were applauding both boxers as they were introduced.
Coates is a great boxer with a good boxing brain and he had had some success in the first round, but Moorhouse was no pushover and came back in the second.
Coates turned it up another gear from that point onwards and was working a bit harder and putting the pressure on, and by round three Coates was enjoying himself with both boxers going toe to toe at times.
Coates is fit and as such kept up the work right to the bell and the crowd showed their appreciation to both kids at the end. Coates was able to take the win on a split decision, showing how close a contest it was.
It had been brilliant boxing by two top lads, and the crowd was fully appreciative of the contest.
Also competing over the weekend was Max Dempsey, as he made his debut on an Ancoats ABC show against local lad Lois Woods.
With great anticipation Dempsey and Woods entered the ring to face each other and the crowd were all behind Woods, which in itself was quite intimidating for the coaches let alone young Dempsey.
In round one the Ancoats boxer rose to the crowd going at Dempsey like a bull throwing wild shots from everywhere. Dempsey got drawn into a fight but gave it Woods back.
He was catching Woods with some bombs of his own so much so that Woods head guard came off.
As Dempsey stood in the corner while they fitted a new head guard he was instructed to box which for the rest off the first he did, dominating the proceedings.
In round two Woods was straight out of the gates again, but Dempsey utilised the situation this time and proceeded to throw the straight jab down the centre, rocking Woods’ head every time then following up with some beautiful left hooks which were hitting the target.
In round three, Dempsey was enjoying the contrast, listening to the crowd all shouting for their man and using that to drive himself on as he upped the work rate.
Woods had nothing other than wild left and right hooks as he stepped in, but Dempsey was now throwing some classic shots and Woods was all over the place getting caught at will by Dempsey.
Both kids kept going right to the bell but there was only one winner as Dempsey got the unanimous decision. The crowd didn’t like it but it had been a good contest and the decision was the right one.