BOXING

All the up-to-date news from the Boston boxing scene

Latest news and reports for 2005

News for week ending December 4

Skegness ABC’s weekend contest was left with just four bouts and one exhibition fight due to late withdrawals and some clubs not even bothering to turn up. One of the four contests that went ahead involved Boston ABC’s Antony Elding who pitted his skills against Farham Mehman. In the opening two rounds, telling shots and a desire to gain the upper hand were not in evidence as both boxers declined the opportunity to get close enough for confrontation.

Instead they chose to make use of a big ring to display defensive and skilful footwork. The final round, though, saw the ring a smaller place for both boys as tiredness set in. And it was here that the Boston strong boy caught up with his opponent. Shots to head and body saw the lad from Skegness having to take a standing count and surrender the round and contest to Elding.

News for week ending November 27:

Boston ABC youngster Daniel Butler contested his first competitive bout for the club—and made a spectacular start at Cambridge. Butler, taller than his opponent Nigel Lee, had to hide behind his left jab as his rival went on the offensive. But Lee’s eagerness to assert his supremacy became his undoing as the Boston hit man cleverly turned his opponent onto the topes and delivered two jabs. The local boy’s defence then fell apart. And a perfect left hook by the Boston lad saw him record a KO with seconds to go in the first round.

News for week ending November 13:

Two junior members of Boston ABC travelled to a tournament at South Normanton in Derbyshire. But results in both of their contests didn’t favour either fighter. Damien Prudence stood up well to the taller Alan Greaves and picked up points for his defensive skills. But the latter produced some good work to the body to drain the Boston battler of energy. And his counter attacks in the final round lacked a cutting edge to topple the confident lad from Derbyshire.

In the other bout, Jamie Powell wasn’t altogether comfortable against the southpaw style of Jack Kell. But he had enough ability to cause Kell problems and make it a good and close contest, especially in the closing stages. Kell saw out the contest covering up on the topes as Powell tried in vain to claw back lost ground.

News for week ending October 23:

Boston ABC’s only entry into this year’s ABA championships was Denis Watson. But he saw his progress ended when losing on a majority decision by computer scoring in a contest held in Bedworth on Friday evening.

Newark-based Adrian Lowe was his conqueror, but many observers, the Boston contingent among their number, believed (as many do when it comes to electronic results) that some decisions are baffling.

Watson dominated the contest for long spells and though Lowe was skilful in defence, he was never a threat to the Boston senior who, it appeared, only need to stay out of harm’s way in the final round to take the winner’s spoils.

Lowe, though, was urged on from his corner to throw more leather as Watson’s energy began to dip. And although the lad from Newark became the aggressor in the closing stages, Watson and his corner men were still confident he had won. However, possibly one too many buttons had been pressed on the computer and it was Lowe who marched on to the next round.

News for week ending October 16:

Preliminary rounds of the Clubs for Young People Championships were an all-day affair at Burton on Trent. This meant a long wait for Boston boxer Ross-Batey and coaches Ken Smith and Keith Pagden for an evening encounter with Shrewsbury’s Miles Lerwill.

However, the waiting didn’t take the edge off of the contest as it was judged the best in its weight class on the night. Advantage swayed both ways as the boxers refused the other respite and there was an uncomfortable second round for Batey as Lerwill’s body strength forced the Boston battler onto the topes to deliver head and body blows that had Batey using legal — and at times other tactics — to hold off the danger man from Shrewsbury.

It was all quiet on the attacking front in the third round. A conserving of energy saw few sorties that were with real intent. An impressive display was needed by one or the other to clinch the contest. Lerwill opened up with determination but Batey stood tall, refused to give ground and allied to this a well delivered body slot saw the Welshman’s strength and relish to do battle evaporate allowing Batey finally to become boss-man and win a contest that was oh so close.