BANK HOLIDAY SUCESS - 5/5/2008

Hoddesdon boxers were out in force over the may bank holiday as no fewer than 7 took part in competition.
first up was club captain LOZ BELL who retained his Home County title in the Junior ABA Championships with a fine points win over ARTHUR SMITH at Milton Keynes on friday. Competing in the class U60 final, LOZ overcame an opponent with an almost identical style as both stylists stood back and waited to counter.
LOZ began to go to work and use his jab to good effect to pile up the points as SMITH had resonable success with the right hand, catching the advancing BELL.
SMITH knew he was behind in the last and came forward looking to overturn the deficit but BELL had done enough on two of the judges scorecards.
Next for BELL is an intriguing contest with one of Englands top rated boxers Joe Wnson for a place in the Quarter-finals.

On Saturday afternoon, 6 up and coming juniors took part on the Harlow promotion at The G.P.C.A. first up looking to get back on the winning trial was NATHAN JOHNSON 13 and he rose to the occasion with a points shut out over the tough MATT YOUNG (Welwyn GC) NATHAN used the jab to good effect and a conserved right cross as YOUNG stalked JOHNSON around the ring.  The pattern was the same for the second round and NATHAN grew in confidence and landed more shots to keep YOUNG away and claim a memorable points win.

Next up was a local derby featuring GEORGII BACON 12 and ALBERT SMITH (Harlow ABC) The crowd were vocal for this one and BACON stamped his authority with blistering combinations to which SMITH couldnt move out of the way of.  GEORGII threw a right cross and left hook to warrant a standing count on SMITH who was being outclassed and tried desperatly to turn things around but couldnt keep BACON away. the bell sounded for the end of the first round and GEORGII was fired up for this and a further combination had the referee no choice but to walk SMITH back to the corner to end the contest in favour of the Hoddesdon boxer.

Ronnie Mcnamara 15 remained unbeaten for the current season with a useful stoppage of ADAM SIMS (Sturminister Newton ABC). Mcnamara is on course for an England call-up and his performance was worthy of selection as he blitzed SIMS with a variety of hard punching combinations to have the Salisbury boy on the back foot and try to keep things at range. it was range that RONNIE found in the second with a sensational right cross that led to a standing eight count.  A nose injury at the end of the round prompted the Sturminster boy to be withdrawn from the contest at the start of the third round.

The remaing three contests were reversals as all fell to points defeats in yet highly entertaining contests.  GEORGE MERNER 13 succumbed to his first defeat of his career but losing on points to the taller and heavier ELLIS DELANEY (Finchley ABC) Merners best success came in the last round when the advancing DELANEY was caught with two successive backhand crosses but it was a case of too little to late. DELANEY dominated behind a jab and piled up points as MERNER was over cautious until the end.

DANIEL SPENDLEY 14, never features in a dull contest and this was no exception as both he and ELLIOT GEORGIOU (Finchley ABC) traded heavy scoring combinations through all 3 rounds that had the crowd including the neutrals on their feet.  DANIEL started brightly but seemed to fade towards the end of the round as GEORGIOU weathered the storm and scored with good counters. SPENDLEYS best round was the second as he seemed to take a good lead into the last round but a free swinging round which swung one way then the other looked to secure SPENDLEY that priceless win but the judges thought otherwise and swayed with the Finchley boxer

Last up was SIMEY DOHERTY 13, he and DEAN PORTER (colchester ABC) served up a treat for the opening round which SIMEY looked to be in control of, but then as both grew tired it was a matter of cat and mouse of which the cat dominated as PORTER caught the advancing DOHERTY with sneak little counters to warrant a points shut out.  SIMEY stopped working from rounds 2 and 3 and that was the main difference between winning and losing, but it would make a good return.

"All the boys performed immpecibly and it was nice as well to see support from the Mini section which is really coming together, we have over 50 boys between the ages of 7 - 9 and the future is very bright"  "With the exception of Loz Bell and Ben Fowl,who are in championships, all our efforts will now go into our main showcase of the season, The Open air show on June 21st, saturday afternoon at The king and tinker pub garden in enfield, middx"
"we also intend to run a ladies only class on a tuesday evening very shortly, such is the popularity"

BOXER BILLY GETS SHOT AT OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION - 16/12/07

Hoddesdon's Amateur boxing Club's rising star BILLY JO SAUNDERS is to get his chance to qualify for next years Beijing Olympics after winning another international Gold medal. The 18 year old welterweight, defeated up and coming French boxer JAOLD CHIGUER in the Final of the TAMMER TOURNAMENT held in Finland and now seems on course for the next qualifier in Pescara, Italy in February.

SAUNDERS underlined his undoubted potential with two excellent displays to win the Gold medal. His first fight was against the experienced YASSER ABDO IRIBA. SAUNDERS was too good for him and forced a stoppage in the third round. in the final he was in dominant form against CHIGUER, who had earlier beaten Russia's number one Amateur OLEG KOMISSAROV, and won the contest 25 - 9 to take the Gold Medal.

PETERBOROUGH 15/12/07

A few days after the Club Dinner show, both RONNIE MCNAMARA and EDWARD MERNER were out to keep up there impressive run of victories with a trip to Peterborough. Facing equally stiff competition both had mixed fortunes on the night.

ED lost a tight unanimous decision to the elusive ERNIE OAKLEY (Eastgate ABC). OAKLEY controlled proceedings behind a stiff jab and nimble footwork to have ED at times chasing shadows. MERNER had success in the second round with a couple of straight back hand counters but OAKLEY controlled the rest of the contest at range for a points shut out win.

RONNIE produced another impressive display, this time against All Ireland Champion DANNY FULLERTON (Keady's ABC) winning a majority decision. FULLERTON tried as hard as he did to nail MCNAMARA down but RONNIE proved to elusive, working behind a sharp jab and following that a slashing left hook which caught his advancing opponent almost at will. FULLERTON tried to up the anti in the second round by throwing fast combinations, but RONNIE was trading with him and coming out of the exchanges on top.

A resigned FULLERTON as good as conceeding the contest in the last round as RONNIE didnt get involved and worked behind a tight guard and fluent jab. An excellent way to finish the first half of the season.

CASTLE HALL / HERTFORD

Another cracking show provided by both The Haileybury Club and Hoddesdon Boxing Club as 8 absorbing contests took place in front of a packed dinning audience. The show kicked off with three of Hoddesdons talented Juniors. GEORGE MERNER (11) opened up proceedings with a Unanimous points decision over Bradley Barclay (Romford ABC). GEORGE circled his much taller opponent before launching combination upon combination to the head and body of his opponent. try as hard as he did, Barclay could not close down the fleet footed MERNER who was always that little bit sharper towards gaining his first victory of his young career.

Next up and looking to make ammends from his last outing was SIMEY DOHERTY (12) who surpassed expectations with a polished performance against a very good opponent in Jack Sawyer (Romford ABC), it was a good nip and tuck affair with Simey using a variey of punches, notibly the left hook which had immediate success in the opening round. Sawyer came back and forced Doherty back on several occasions but Doherty would not be overwhelmed boxing in front of his supporters and he to gained a Unanimous points decision.

Romford ABC did claw one back when James Ferrier outpointed NATHAN JOHNSON (13) on a majority decision in a crowd pleasing contest.
Nathan started brightly and held the advantage going into round two, however Ferrier pressed forward and landed successfully to surpass all the good work that Johnson did in the early stages of the contest. JOHNSON changed tactics in the last with superb footwork and excellent counterpunching to bring himself back into the contest and at the end, opinions were divided, but Barclay clinched the decision.

The best contest of the evening and recipient of the Boxer of the Evening went to RONNIE MCNAMARA (14) who is one to watch this season, he outpointed the very strong John Saunders (Farnham Warriors ABC) and the reigning Southern Counties Champion. RONNIE oozed class from the start, working in spruts and landing strong scoring counterpunches. Saunders continually pressed forward and showed an exceptional workrate to stay in the contest. But RONNIE stepped up a gear and scored freely towards the end to clinch an excellent points decision.

Two decsions which were very debatable went against the home boxers as DANIEL SPENDLEY and CHRIS DOHERTY both lost majority decisions. SPENDLEY seemed to be in control throughout his encounter with JACOB MARTIN (Bexley ABC). landing thumping hard counters, Martin seemed to be all at sea in the opening stanza but to his credit clawed his way back into the contest. Martin had brief success in the second round as Spendley went on the offensive, but a storming last round finish did not convince the Judges in the end as they voted for the South London Boxer.

CHRIS DOHERTY had a hastly arranged rematch with the very strong ALFIE SMITH (New Astley ABC). Chris was well beaten last time out against SMITH and had a point to prove, and it looked as though he had executed his plan perfectly, drawing SMITH onto long jabs and strong hooks to keep his opponent off balance. The cleaner scoring shots were coming from DOHERTY and apart from a wild exchange in the dying seconds of the contest, DOHERTY looked to have squeezed home, however the Judges favored the advancing style of SMITH.

Due to a successful auction/raffle, proceeds of which were raised to go to the The Haileybury Clubs project for restoration. Four contest were scrapped due to over running.

other results:

Daulton Tonna (Tommy's ABC) Lpts Levi Arnold (Bexley ABC)
Jake Bailey (Cheshunt ABC) Lpts John O'Neil (Trojan ABC)