First show of season is sell-out for Sandygate boxers

BURNLEY’S Sandygate Amateur Boxing Club held its first sell-out show of the season at Accrington’s New Era complex, with more than 500 fans flocking to the Friday Fight Night.

Nelson’s Charlie Martin (13) started the ball rolling against J. Matthews (Halifax ABC) in an old fashioned square-up. Martin put his Yorkshire foe straight to the canvas within five seconds, though Matthews was adjudged to have slipped.

The hectic first round carried on with neither taking a backward step. The second saw Charlie move from body to head with ease, connecting well with his sweeping right hook, forcing his opponent on the back foot. Such was the force of an unanswered switch of attack, the referee was forced to administer the first eight count of the evening.

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The third round saw Martin sense the early finish, and the man in the middle had no option but to give Matthews another count. But when boxing resumed it lasted only a matter of seconds as Martin made the referee step in once again to end it.

Sandygate’s 18-year-old female prospect Ellis Nuttall faced E. Rushton (Huyton ABC) in a display of the sweet science. Nuttall boxed superbly, dominating the bout with a laser-guided jab and natural movement. In the second and third the Sandygate boxing belle bossed the Liverpudlian, connecting well from feints and an impressive repertoire of pin-point punching, which saw her gain a unanimous verdict. English International and Schoolboy champion Sam Tucker (13) graced the squared circle against E. Drayton (Scunthorpe ABC) in a one-sided affair.

The Harle Syke hitman didn’t give the Scunthorpe fighter a moment to think as he rhythmically controlled every round. The Fisher More pupil’s rapid left hand, followed by a devastating right hand and lightening footwork, saw him score and move repeatedly, which saw him given a unanimous decision.

Burnley’s schoolboy class showed again in the next bout when number seven ranked Jerome Lawton (13) faced up to Preston’s M. Day (Larches & Savik ABC). Round one saw both boys test the water, with both holding firm. The second saw a revitalised Lawton step up his work rate, constantly hitting the body in clinches and taking full advantage of his fatigued opponent. The second Day dropped his guard, Jerome punished with a blistering barrage of hooks and upper-cuts, forcing the official to give a standing eight count.

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The third saw the Burnley boxer bombard Day with countless pressure, which resulted in another standing eight, switching from head to body at will, earning another unanimous decision.

Joe Bisset (14) narrowly lost out on a majority decision to R. Taylor (Droylesdon ABC) and Alfie Wardle (14), in a head-scratching verdict also on a majority, lost to A. Morton (Broughton ABC).

Burnley senior Adrian Pilling (22) faced Bolton’s D. Khan (Elite ABC) in a battle which shook the venue’s walls. Straight from the bell this bout had the crowd hooked; Pilling’s work-rate and ring-craft shone as this well-skilled powerhouse pushed an also disciplined Khan, as they went toe-to-toe. The second and third two-minute rounds were a different story as the popular boxer rolled and hooked, connecting well. Judges ringside gave a well received nod towards Higham’s Pilling.

Holmes Street’s Harry Magee (16) lost a majority decision to J. Moss (Hope ABC) and Sam Hayward (17) lost unanimously to J. Sellers (Halifax ABC).

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Recently returned Paratrooper Lee O’Hara (22) squared up to Derbyshire’s A. Reed (Trinity ABC) in a one-sided milling affair, with the ex-Army Team Squad boxer pushing and punishing his taller opponent to give Reed a count in the first and third rounds, earning a unanimous verdict.

Debutant Colne’s Tom Shaw (26) was matched up to P. Borzynski (Jimmy Egans ABC). Shaw gave the Polish pugilist a standing eight in the second and third rounds, yet it seemed to be missed by all except the crowd, coaches, doormen and cleaner!

Show stopper and the final bout saw Burnley’s Ben Brindle (22) bound up to Stockport’s T. Johnson (Bredbury ABC) and dominate all three rounds. Barrages of body-shots and deadly combinations resulted in yet another unanimous verdict.

Sandygate’s club coach Nik Tucker said: “The schoolboys showed why we are so highly-rated in England. We will be entering seven into the ABA Schoolboy Finals this season, hoping to earn more than the two titles won last year.”

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Andy Howcroft and John Brindle added: “Ellie Nuttall changed a lot of old-school views on female boxing, winning over a very knowledgeable crowd with a brilliant performance.”

The club now look forward to boxing in Ireland next week with a Burnley Select in a tournament organised by Sandygate coach Shaun Dwyer. Also tagging along is new coach Stuart McFadyen.

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