9:30am Wednesday 10th October 2007
By Paul Alton
RAYLEIGH Amateur Boxing Club's first show for 10 years has been declared a knockout success.
Five hundred fight fans packed into Mill Hall in Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, for the 16-bout show and were treated to a fine feast of amateur action.
And apart from the success of the evening, the host were delighted to see six of their eight boxers fighting pick up trophies.
"Rayleigh ABC are currently one of the most successful clubs in Essex and wanted to show off some of the talent that we have in the gym at present," said club coach Les Cook.
"With six out of eight boxers walking away with winners trophies, we were pleased.
"However, the other two will have rematches soon and we will put the record straight."
Karl Davies was the first Rayleigh fighter in action, facing Miles Kelling from Sudbury ABC.
Davies took the fight to his Suffolk opponent from the start with some good combinations that forced Kelling into rare counter attacks.
The Rayleigh fighter suffered a nose bleed in the third round but the result was never in doubt - a unanimous win for Davies.
Dale Bliss kept the Rayleigh flag flying with a majority win over Liam Giles from Castle ABC in Colchester.
Bliss made a good start before Giles got some better punches in.
The second round was fairly even but Bliss had the upper hand in the third.
Joe Cooke made it three out of three for Rayleigh with a unanimous decision over Southend ABC's Reece Richards.
National Golden Belt Finalist and Eastern Counties Squad member Cooke was in control in the first but Richards came back in the second to make amends, although Cooke weathered the storm and came back with some good shots.
Cooke landed some quality early punches and although Richards tried to work his way back into the round, Cooke had done enough to win.
Daniel Carriger secured a majority verdict against Sudbury's Sam Justice.
The first round was an even affair before Justice gained a slight advantage in the second.
But Carriger took the fight to Justice in the third, forcing him into the ring corners for long periods.
Berry Boys ABC's Mitchell Philpot lost out on a majority verdict to Chris Corcoran of Romford's Gator ABC.
An electric start saw Philpot landing some decent punches before Corcoran suffered a shoulder injury and took a standing eight count.
Philpot started the second like a whirlwind but received a warning for keeping his head up and then received a standing eight count after being caught with a left jab.
The third saw Philpot again make a good start but Corcoran was happy to pick his shots - one of which gave Philpot a bloody nose - before Philpot landed a left which knocked Corcoran onto the ropes.
Rayleigh's first defeat of the night came when Jack Hierons lost to Castle's Jack Short on a unanimous verdict.
An explosive first round saw Hierons knock Short to the canvas as they traded punches.
Short made a better start to round two but Hierons fought back before Short landed a good punch at the end.
The slugging match continued in the third, although Short landed some better punches towards the end it was still a close-fought thing in both fighters' first time in the ring.
Tilbury Dockers' Lenny Moore made a good start in his fight against Billy Freshwater (MK Victors), seeing his opponent take a standing eight count before a leg injury forced Moore to retire in the second.
Canvey's Chris Goddard claimed the Essex Novice under-70kg title with a unanimous decision over Craig Mills from Berry Boys.
A cagey opening round saw both fighters size each other up before Mills started slugging away. Mills appeared happy to invite him on before picking his punches.
Mills came out fighting in the second but Goddard took his time before getting his tiring opponent into the corner and landing a number of punches that resulted in a standing eight count.
The Basildon fighter got some better punches in in the third round but Goddard still picked his shots before Mills got a second standing eight count.
Rayleigh returned to winning ways when Jack Wright beat Danny Newth of Southend ABC with a majority decision.
Wright started with a good jab during an even first round that saw Newth finish with a flourish.
Newth worked hard in the second but a composed Wright picked his punches.
The third was an even round with both fighters getting some good punches in but Wright always looking slightly ahead.
Canvey's Ben Hales enjoyed a unanimous win over Michael Keenan from Waltham Forest.
Hales had a height advantage and looked comfortable despite Keenan landing a punch to his opponent's face.
The second round saw Keenan put in a lot of effort but with little end product as Hales commanded the round from the centre of the ring.
Hales upped the tempo in the third to put Keenan on the back foot as he took total control.
Rayleigh's second defeat of the night came when Luke Fowler lost to Ben Hall from Dagenham ABC on a unanimous decision.
The first two rounds were fairly even with Fowler trying some good combinations.
But Hall switched from orthodox to southpaw to keep Fowler at bay and just edged a close bout.
Rayleigh returned to winning ways with Robert Thake beating Graham Shields (MK Victors) by a unanimous decision.
Thake had the upper hand in the first round and despite Shields making a better start to the second, Thake overcame that to remain in control.
The Rayleigh fighter made a powerful start to the third round and defended well when Shields threw some better punches.
Jamie Homer crowned a successful night for Rayleigh by securing a majority win over Karl Allen of Bury St Edmunds' Eastgate ABC.
Light welterweight Homer made a good start in an electric bout but was frustrated when Allen kept moving in and holding him.
The Rayleigh fighter was still in control in the second round and was given a boost by the partisan crowd chanting his name.
The final round saw Homer let Allen come forward but then counter attack to force the Suffolk fighter into the corners.
Other results Jack Lavelle (Sudbury) beat Jason Shields (MK Victors) by unanimous decision, Leah Flintham (Stevenage) beat Rebecca Donnolly (Gravesham) by unanimous decision, Shane Steward (Castle) beat Anthony Sahota (Whitstable) by unanimous decision.
The next Rayleigh ABC show is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2008.
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