Straw boys set up shots at NW titles
THE Northwest Cadet and Junior Championships is a prestigious tournament with the best of the north west from Macclesfield as far up as Penrith.
Noel Straw was Macclesfield Boys Boxing Club’s first boxer in the Cadet 57kg class against Josh Kelly from Ardwick ABC. They had boxed the week before on the MBBC club show and Kelly had got the win so Noel was keen to avenge that loss.
Noel tends to be slow of the mark and Kelly was straight to it with his slick southpaw stance very fast and full of energy. Straw was reserved and catching the shots. This was a battle of will as Straw slowly started to throw with the bout going to and fro,
Kelly on the back foot as Straw pushed on with combinations cutting the ring down in a great first round.
The second saw Straw pick up his game, showing great heart as he pushed on with beautiful consistent combinations with Kelly throwing ones and twos then covering up or getting caught off Straw.
Round three and Straw had dominated the bout on the front foot with more aggression, Kelly on the back foot showing great boxing skills but not really throwing enough and as this was the championships these kids had stepped up to two minute rounds which suited MBBC as Straw’s fitness showed.
Kelly was getting tired and getting caught a bit more but fair play to both they gave it their all and it was a close contest again, the judges cards were in and it was a unanimous decision as MBBC’s Straw has his hand raised a great start to the day and a well deserved win.
Next up was Noel’s older brother Joe, a tall rangy kid his opponent was from Ashley VIP, Peter Booth.
As the bell rang Booth was tentative at first as he stepped forward in his southpaw stance as Joe is a tall lad who soon put his mark on the bout with a straight back hand down the middle which landed clean. This put out some fire in Booth’s heart and he started to throw punches with some vengeance. Straw, good on his feet, was covering up and using the ring but, as soon as he threw some punches, Booth would back up allowing Straw to get his measure and catch clean again.
Round two and Straw had been told to build on his shots which he did, backing Booth up all the time and then opening up. Booth was covering up well and coming back with some close range shots but Straw was picking him off regularly now and was clearly in control.
Round three and Straw turned it up again. Booth was trying his best to get some shots off and was catching at times too, but Straw was now starting to catch cleaner as Booth tired, eventually one shot eanred him an eight count. Straw, stepping back in again with some more powerful shots that were bang on target and the ref stepped in again with a count but this time he called the bout off and Straw took the win.
It was a fantastic afternoon of boxing for all those present and two massive wins for the Straw brothers, making MBBC proud. Now it’s on to the northwest finals and a shot at two titles.