THE Eagle House Hotel were hosts to the Launceston Amateur Boxing Club’s second show of the 2019 season on Saturday evening (April 13). The packed out show were treated to 15 spectacular contests featuring 13 of the Launceston club’s boxers.
First up for Launceston saw Alfie Rowland (12) take on Jake Geaves (12) from the Finchley club in a Skills contest over three one-minute rounds. Rowland displayed much improved skills from his last bout, keeping his slippery opponent on the end of long-range punches whilst utilising great defensive footwork to avoid the countering attacks. The final bell saw both boxers declared winners.
Female boxer Buryanna Gwennap (11) made her debut appearance in the boxing ring and faced Lillie Dymond (12) from the NSC club in Bristol in another Skills contest over the same distance. The Launceston boxer displayed supreme accuracy launching well timed jabs and straight right hands against the ‘come forward’ Bristolian. Again both boxers were declared winners with both boxers looking to have great futures in the sport ahead of them.
Next up for Launceston saw Billy Jago (11) square up to Richard Pollak (11) from the Malmesbury club in Wiltshire, held over three 90-second rounds. From the opening bell, Jago advanced with his ‘no nonsense’ approach unleashing his fierce two-fisted attacks, Pollak fought back hard, landing some solid shots of his own. Jago continued to push forward behind a ram road jab following up with uppercuts and hooks to the head but Pollak would not be denied and tried to meet fire with fire. The final bell brought an end to a thrilling contest with the Launceston youngster’s hand being raised as the winner. Both boxers were awarded with the best Junior bout of the night trophies.
Launceston southpaw Evan Crabb (12) made his second appearance in a boxing ring and faced Milky Bastow (12) from the Bude Boxing Academy in another three x 90-second round contest. Crabb boxed behind his southpaw jab and followed up with straight lefts and right hooks whilst the Bude boxer elected to box on the back foot, unleashing wild swings at the head. Crabb continued to keep his opponent backed up to the ropes, scoring well with combinations and the final bell saw him declared the winner.
Josh Ball (13) made his debut for the club in emphatic style against Jordan Worgan (13) from the NSC Club with a first-round stoppage after unleashing thunderous straight lefts and rights to the head of the Bristolian forcing the referee to intervene and call a halt to the contest.
An eagerly awaited rematch between Launceston’s Tyler Gregory (13) and Swaley Greaves (13) from the Finchley club saw a closely fought battle that to’d and fro’d for the first two rounds with both boxers having their success. The third-round saw Gregory score heavily with a fast accurate jab with little in return, resulting with his hand being raised as the winner making it one win apiece and a decider to come.
Next up saw an epic battle between Harry Sleep (13) and Alfie Jago (13) from the Stonehouse club in Plymouth. Both boxers set an intense pace throwing everything but the kitchen sink at one another. The battle was relentless with both boxers having their successes with thunderous left and right hooks. Both boxers adopted the ruse to lose mentality to the final bell with neither boxer deserving to lose.
However there are no draws in amateur boxing with two of the three judges scoring the bout in favour of Jago.
Launceston’s Tresillian Gwennap (14) met Thomas Nutt (13) from the Malmesbury club.
Gwennap was making his debut appearance as an orthodox boxer as his previous three contests had boxed as a southpaw. Gwennap looked very stylish and defensively brilliant throughout the contest but neglected his own attack skills, only scoring with single shot counter-punches against his ever advancing opponent. A very close scoring contest with all three judges only having two points between them either way, but it was Nutt was declared the winner with a majority points decision.
Brandon Charnock (15) was up next for Launceston against Harrison Lofts (15) from the Watchet club in Somerset. Brandon took control over the centre of the ring with his flashy boxing style unleashing explosive attacks to the head and body. Lofts struggled to cope with Charnock’s head movement and footwork and repeatedly found himself being outworked. The final bell saw the Cornishmen’s hand raised with a unanimous points win.
Another home debutant saw Tino Gee take on fellow 15-year-old Josh Power from the NSC Club in Bristol.
This was a battle of the big guns with both boxers landing bombs on each other from the bell. Both boxers showing extreme courage as they came under fire while blasting with both hands. Part way through the second round Gee found and almighty uppercut to the chin of the Bristolian, forcing a standing count. The barrage of bombs continued into the third-round with the Launceston boy forcing the referee to intervene and stop the contest with Gee being declared the winner.
Next on for Launceston saw Liam Smith (28) square up to Ollie Evans (19) from the Malmesbury club. Another southpaw turned orthodox saw a masterclass from the Launceston boxer in the use of the jab as he connected at will to the head of the come forward approach of Evans.
Smith’s timing was on point and easily bossed all three rounds with his jab alone and he was raised as the winner with a unanimous points decision.
Following an 11-month lay-off from the sport, Smith’s identical twin Dan took on unbeaten Jake Loft (27) from Malmesbury. Both boxers adopted a hit and not be hit approach where one would lead off and the other would try and counter. A very close affair with both boxers having their successes in each of the rounds with Loft’s hand being raised as the winner with a majority points decision.
Top of the bill saw Launceston’s national champion Callum Charnock take on southpaw Jed Davies (17) from Barnstaple.
Two very experienced and skilful boxers gave a very fast paced and explosive contest. It was boxing at it’s best with two good friends outside of the ring giving each other hell for the entertainment of the audience. Charnock’s lightning fast and eye-catching combination punching saw his hand raised with a unanimous points win. Both boxers were awarded with the ‘Bout of the Night’ trophies.