In what is their first competitive season, West Kingsdown Boxing Club staged their third show in six months.
It was billed as “A Birthday Bash” in reference to the club’s first birthday. The beast from the east put paid to their original date however, they managed to rearrange it for St Patrick’s Day when the snow came again and they lost another three bouts. Despite the circumstances the show went ahead with 12 thoroughly entertaining and evenly matched bouts.
West Kingsdown’s Tommy Hill and Lucas Holdway got the home club off and running with their first skills bouts impressing their coaches with their fine boxing. The host club went on to win five of their six competitive bouts of the day, a great feat and a credit to their coaches.
John Friend lost a split decision against Bradley Spicer (Sandwich) in a bout that could have gone either way, maybe Spicer’s strong last round just swayed it, but Friend will come again.
There were three strong contenders for “Bout of the Day” with the host’s Harvey Martin’s three round war against Tayla Cox (White Hart Lane) just coming out on top. Harvey boxed a clever fight avenging a previous loss with a unanimous point win over a very strong Cox, a last round knockdown sealing the win for him.
Roger Hilton (West Kingsdown) repeated a points win over the much improved Jack Blencow (Kingfisher). This was a real test for the unbeaten Hilton with Blencow taking the bout right to him from the first bell. It was nip and tuck for three hard rounds with Blencow applying the pressure and Hilton boxing well off the back foot and quite often off the ropes. Hilton had a point deduction (for holding) in the last round which worried the home crowd however he got home, albeit by a split decision.
Another thrilling winner from the home club was George Welsh, he and Billy Baxster (St Ives) provided a bout of real quality that belied their inexperience. It was the work rate and pressure of Welsh versus the switch hitting clever boxing of Baxster. Welsh got home by a split decision despite suffering a bloody nose.
Xavier Claudel (West Kingsdown) overcame the height and reach disadvantage of Islington’s Alfie Cain to provide him with his second win in a row. Having been out for months with a broken wrist Claudel shook off the ring rust and his controlled aggression won him a unanimous decision.
Zak Rogers (West Kingsdown) closed the show in fine style with a clear points win over Max Wastall (Maidstone Gurkhas). Rogers dominated the first round inflicting a standing eight count over the game Wastall, however Zak was made to go the distance against a tough opponent but his clever boxing won him a unanimous decision and Best Boxer Award to boot!
Newly crowned WBA intercontinental super-welterweight Ted Cheeseman was in attendance to hand out trophies and pose for photos with the boys.
Headcoach, Mickey Bowden, was understandably delighted with all of his boxers’ performances and plans to host one more show before the end of the season.
Other results: John McDonagh (Islington) W/PTS Josh Cato (Bexhill); Noah Eastwood (Kent Gloves) W/PTS John Cosgrave (Tenterden); Adam Benardout (Maidstone Ghurkas) W/PTS Ryan Duffle (Kingfisher); Caiden Hughes (Islington) W/PTS Joel Pownecby (Berinsfield).
