Sandygate duo into quarters

Sandygate Amateur Boxing Club's trio of North West Schoolboy champions competed in the National Pre-Quarter-Finals at The Lighthouse, Salford against their Yorkshire counterparts at the weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st May 2016, 09:00 BST
l-r, Shaun Dwyer (Coach), Sulaiman Malik, Joe Craford, Nik Tucker (Coach)l-r, Shaun Dwyer (Coach), Sulaiman Malik, Joe Craford, Nik Tucker (Coach)
l-r, Shaun Dwyer (Coach), Sulaiman Malik, Joe Craford, Nik Tucker (Coach)

Hoping to reach the last eight of England’s finest young pugilists, “Smokin’” Joe Crawford (14) faced H. Ingle (Scarborough ABC) at 48kg Class B.

Straight from the opening bell Crawford forced Ingle onto the back foot, and he worked the body well, quickly switching to the head.

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The second again saw Crawford dominate, keeping centre before launching another phase of attack, connecting in bunches. The final round was again the Sandygate boxer’s, giving all five judges ringside a easy verdict.

Hasan Khan (12) narrowly lost out in a bruising encounter against Halifax ABC’s D.Finchet at 40kg Class A on a split decision.

Sulaiman “Sol” Malik (14) took on Hull’s S.Iqbal (Tigers ABC) at 54kg Class B in a thrilling affair. Iqbal’s southpaw stance didn’t faze the Burnley boxer, the unbeaten Malik catching well with his left hook.

The Yorkshire champion came out in the third all guns blazing, but the Marsden Heights Year 9 pupil conneced on the counter to take the decision and join Crawford in the National Quarter-Finals tomorrow at Croxteth.

Meanwhile, St John’s Year 6 primary School pupil Elliot “Mo” Littlefair (11) made his debut in Leeds, performing well in a skills bout.

Related topics:North WestSalfordYorkshire