Slick Lawson steals the show at Steels

Sunderland ABC enjoyed a successful first open show of the season at Steels Club, despite last-minute pull-outs.

The fight of the night saw Andrew Lawson (Sunderland ABC) and Wearmouth’s Nathan Duffy produce a thriller.

Lawson, back after a year off, started well, with some devastating blows to head and body. Duffy fired back well when hurt, but Lawson used every punch in the book and was a convincing winner on a unanimous decision. He topped it off by winning the best boxer of the night award.

Sunderland ABC’s Kye Middleton revelled in a first round TKO in an all-action bout with Forest Hall’s Owen Armstrong. Middleton, a tall, twofisted attacking fighter forced Armstrong back, and the referee jumped in to give a mandatory eight count. Middleton fired in some heavy artillery before the referee jumped in to save Armstrong from further punishment.

Charlie Lichfield (Sunderland ABC) was unlucky to lose to Wearmouth’s B. Archibald.

Lichfield, a tidy boxer, looked to force the pace throughout, getting behind a stiff jab in the first two rounds, though Archibald came back into the contest and was adjudged the winner.

Sunderland ABC’s Jaxon Laws got behind the jab against Shildon’s Carl Stout, but, despite his game approach, he suffered an early KO after some heavy blows.

Wearmouth’s Riley Ellison enjoyed a deserved points win in a toe-to-toe clash with B. Pearson (Crook).

Sunderland ABC fighter Joe Padgett and R. Mitchell (Darlington ABC) produced a tactical bout, with Padgett the aggressor. Mitchell had some clever moves, avoiding Padgett shots and countering with some front hand hooks, and he took the honours.

Sunderland ABC’s Blake Rush showed a vast improvement and looked to take eve- ry round in an exciting clash with Birtley’s Kane Quinn. Rush earned a well-deserved unanimous decision.

The top-of-the-bill bout saw High Fell’s Oliver Bolger take a unanimous decision after a great contest with Horsley Hill’s Lewis Laing.

Leon Walker (Sunderland ABC) showed his improvement in his final skills bout against T. Nitfen (Seconds Out), with both lads having their hands raised.

Charlie Myers (Sunderland ABC) served up a cracker against L. Myers (Phil Thomas School of Boxing) in his first skills bout, showing potential.