Amateurs stir up interest at Custard Factory by Tom Podmore Nov 19th 2007

Twelve action-packed, hard-fought and well-matched junior amateur contests preceded the professional boxing at Birmingham's Custard Factory on Sunday afternoon (November 18), with seven of the home boxers (Chelmsley Wood ABC) emerging with their hands raised. Pugilist Promotions (Jon Pegg and John Costello) put on this ambitious endeavour of an amateur and professional show for the same ticket price. It turned out to be a huge success, with the Rojac Building packed to the rafters for both sides of the card. The 12-fight amateur bill kicked off with 13-year-old Tom Lennon (Chelmsley Wood ABC, debut) outpointing Aaron Morgan (Merlin ABC, debut) on a majority after three one-and-half-minute rounds. Although the power was certainly with the Derbyshire-based junior, the straight scoring shots came from the Birmingham boxer, who forced Morgan, 13, on to the defensive in the last two with sharp leads. Lennon shaded every session in pro terms. Kieran Gething (Horden ABC, 1-1 entering) got a deserved unanimous decision over Dempsey Brown (Chelmsley Wood ABC, debut) after three one-and-half-minute rounds. Brown made the better start, working his way in behind a double jab and follow-up rights. By the second, however, Dempsey was being sharply countered by the Tyne boxer. Gething, 13, got his shots off a split-second quicker as the contest drew to a close. Gething came good after a slow start. The most impressive amateur on show, for me at least, was 14-year-old Cori Gibbs (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 2-0 entering), who stopped Joshua Mason (Bideford ABC, 2-1 entering) in the second of a scheduled three one-and-half-minute rounds. Gibbs picked off his Devon opponent with counters and forced a standing eight count with a straight right in the latter stages of the first. Although Mason, 13, tried to fire back, a left hook forced another standing eight in the second and another assault forced the end. Jack Burbidge (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 3-2 entering) unanimously outpointed Liam Cammock (Horden ABC, 4-3 entering) after three one-and-half-minute rounds. Cammock, 12, had to fight back tears after the decision had been given against him, though it was perfectly fair. The Tyne boxer was brave but forced back and walked on to too many punches, especially jabs and right hooks from the 13-year-old. Chelmsley Wood had their second loss of the day as Barry Lee (Bideford ABC, 2-1 entering) was handed a unanimous decision over Jack Edwards (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 1-0 entering) after three one-and-half-minute rounds. Edwards, 12, was a human windmill as he marched into 12-year-old Barry, who picked his punches to score with lefts and rights. Lee continued to beat Jack to the punch in the rounds that followed to secure the decision. Tion Gibbs (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 2-0 entering) made sure he joined his brother in the winners enclosure with a unanimous decision over Harley Johnston (Birmingham Irish ABC) after three one-and-half-minute rounds. Johnson proved to be a tough kid, taking some solid shots from swashbuckling Gibbs, 12, before slamming back with both hands. Tion, although caught on the way out, scored regularly with the knuckle part of the glove and was a worthy winner. Midland junior champion Ryan Kelly (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 8-3 entering) secured a unanimous decision over Billy Sumpton (Shildon ABC, 6-8 entering) after a good-quality three-twos. Kelly, 13, showed good footwork and punch selection to edge the opener. Though the 13-year-old Tyne boxer tried to fight back, he was outboxed, outfought, out-thought and outscored after the bell had tolled to signal the end of the six-minute contest. Tall, wiry Ashley Silver (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 6-0 entering) remained undefeated with a unanimous nod over squat, powerful Hayden Price (Shildon ABC, 12-8 entering) after three-twos. Price, sure he'd done enough to take the verdict, stormed out of the ring after the decision had been announced. I thought he left his charge too late and was outjabbed in the first two. Fifteen-year-old Silver kept the red-haired boxer at arms length throughout, working off the jab. Price, also 15, tried to use his stocky frame to work on the inside but was tagged on the way in. The Tyne boxer had a better last, but had left his charge too late. After a cracking three-twos, 15-year-old Jack Langford (Bideford ABC, 21-10 entering) came through with a unanimous decision over PJ Cawley (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 15-13 entering). I thought Cawley had just nicked it, incidentally. It was deservedly named the best contest after the 12 bouts had been completed. PJ (Paul James), 15, and Jack were involved in several give-and-take exchanges that saw neither take a backward step. Langford, although on top at the end, was slow to start and caught plenty of scoring shots. Sean Walker (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 10-8 entering) lost out on a majority to aggressive Anthony Hardy (Horden ABC, 10-7 entering) after three close two-minute rounds. Although both were 15, the similarities ended there. Hardy looked for big, winding hooks and Walker used the ring, used his feet and used straight shots to counter with down the pipe. However, he waited too long to get his punches off in the last and was made to pay. Chelmsley Wood lost their third fight in a row when William Lumley (Finchley & District ABC, 5-1 entering) unanimously outscored Kieron Jones (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 7-2 entering) after three one-and-half-minute rounds. The opening exchanges were frantic and wild, though Lumley was the more controlled of the two 13-year-olds. He forced Jones to take a standing eight after a right hook in the second and bossed matters for the rest of the contest to take the verdict. The amateur bill couldn't have finished on a higher note when Antonio Counihan (Chelmsley Wood ABC, 27-8 entering) unanimously outpointed England international Joe Winson (Finchley & District ABC, 37-14 entering) after an exciting four-twos. Antonio got off to a cracking start when he knocked the Londoner, trained by former British featherweight boss Sean Murphy, off-balance with fast-handed hooks. The last three rounds were close, but Counihan caught Winson on the way in and deservedly added his 28th win to his card. The referee for all 12 of the bouts was Fred Davies.

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Jack Langford v P.j Cawley Dec 5th 2007, 13:54:37 by linga In my eyes Langford was a clear winner. He dominated round 2 and 3, repeatedly knocking back the local boys head. The Birmingham corner and watching local trainers all congratulated Jack on a fine and clear win.