Experience proves key for Tommy
YOUNGSTER Tommy Palmer took a bout with only a few days’ notice at the Holiday Inn in Bolton for Halliwell ABC’s show.
Tommy jumped at the opportunity to box Sidney Hill, who had lost his opponent at the start of the week. Sidney was from Halliwell, the home club and not as experienced as Tommy but a very game kid.
Round one saw Tommy coming forward, boxing nicely and finding his range. Sidney was on the backfoot and also throwing nice counters as they moved around the ring,
To be fair, Tommy’s experience was showing but Sidney was no push over and he was making Tommy work.
Round two and some nice boxing on display from both these kids as they parried and countered, precise shots on target - a great contest and nice to watch. Sometimes boxers will go all out and it looks more like a brawl, but tonight both these kids were picking their shots.
Round three and with two rounds in the bag, Tommy enjoyed himself a bit more, using the ring two steps one way then two the other as Sidney tried to land his shots. Every so often Tommy would come forward with three and four punch combinations, landing two or three. It was a great contest and a great opponent. Both these boxers will go far dealing with the pressure, calm and unfazed as they both worked brilliantly.
Well done both, it takes two to tango and the crowd enjoyed every minute. Tommy Palmer took the victory on a unanimous win, thank you to Donna Shaw for the excellent corner work.
Lewis Fitzpatrick’s bout against Harry Clayton from Sparrow ABC at the John Alker Centre in Trafford had been arranged for a while as both are hard to match, being so young and both big lads.
Each one weighs in at 85kg despite only being 14 years old. Fitzpatrick last boxed on the MBBC show and, although losing to a strong kid, he gave as good as he got but was never really able to box such was the ferocity off that encounter. So having seen Clayton sparring, we felt this would be a much better contest and so it proved.
Tthis was a cross match with neither having the home advantage. Clayton was much taller than Lewis and thick set, he went to work straight away with a fast pace.
Lewis matched him as he started to let his backhand go, leading out the rear punch. You learn early on as a southpaw and Lewis was having some great success. Both boxers were working now as the bout went back and to, the crowd was loving it.
Round two and for me this was probably Lewis’s best round as he didn’t welter under the pressure, instead he turned it up and for me landed some beauties in this round as Harry’s head was forced back on more than one occasion.
Harry was no shrinking violet and pushed Lews back to the ropes at one point as Lewis slipped under his punch turned him and threw a couple of hard shots, moving away great boxing.
Round three and Lewis kept up his momentum, Harry didn’t faulter either as they both gave everything they had. Both these kids were strong right up to the bell and deserved the applause they received, what a great fight well done both. This was going to be close, we thought Lewis had edged but it wasn’t to be, Harry Clayton snatched the win on a split, but no arguments, what a bout and one we will definitely do again.