A DINNER Boxing show was staged at Holsworthy Memorial Hall on Saturday, May 9, where many of the Launceston Amateur Boxing Club's (ABC) new boxers were making their debut appearance facing boxers from all over the South West.

Due to the state of the economy, the dinner seats were hard to fill and sponsors hard to find but the club braved it out and the turn out at the door certainly made up for it.

Launceston's Sam Smith (15) opened the show in a skills bout with Callum Barker (15) from the Pilgrims ABC in Plymouth. There is no winner in this bout as the aim is to display boxing skills with the competitive edge taken away.

Sam showed impressive hand speed and good movement around the boxing ring and is certainly going to be a tough customer to beat in the future.

Next on for Launceston was Dan Banton (14) who faced Callum Dovell (14) from the Combe Martin ABC. From the opening bell, Dan set a fierce pace unleashing barrages of punches to the head and body of Callum, backing him to the ropes where Dan kept up the pressure. Callum tried to weather the storm and get composure back but struggled with the volume of punches coming his way.

The second round saw Callum try to keep the Launceston boy at range firing some good straight lefts and rights with some success bringing the score line a bit closer. The final round saw Dan continue to pressure the now slowing Callum, keeping his combinations flowing to the bell and the Launceston boy was declared the winner on a unanimous points victory.

Another Skills contest saw Launceston's Marley Seal (13) box Jack Chynowoth (13) from the Pilgrims ABC. In each of the three one minute rounds, Marley moved around the boxing ring as if he was a veteran, looked very stylish landing with rights to the body and jabs to the head and gave a brilliant demonstration of skills in defensive boxing. Definitely one to watch out for in the future.

Elliot Lodge (14) took on Tyler Fox (15) from the Wells ABC in Somerset. True to form, the Launceston Battler took the argument to the much more experienced and taller Tyler and tried to boss the contest. The Wells boxer was having none of it and fought back hard connecting with several eye catching overhand rights. There wasn't much between the pair in the all the three rounds, with both boys giving each other a very hard time and connecting with thunderous shots to the head and body right up to the final bell. Both boys were congratulated for their very hard fought contest and Tyler was declared the winner on a unanimous points victory.

The final skills bout was between Launcestons's Josh McCabe (14) who boxed Shannon Tribble (14) from the Pilgrims ABC. After a very nervous start for the youngster, he soon found his way around the boxing ring displaying good footwork and long range punching. The art of hit without being hit is what boxing is all about and these first time boxers displayed exactly that. Again, another Launceston boxer to watch out for.

James Hobson (15) took on big puncher Kane Jones (15) from the Wells ABC. The Launceston boy knew his boxing skills needed to be at their best and from the opening bell Kane came out blasting with very fast hooks from both hands. James caught the shots on his arms but could still feel the raw power of Kane and so stood off to look for an opening using a very strong jab of his own to keep Kane away.

The second round saw James up the work rate leading off with a solid jab, rolling under the left hooks of Kane and then connecting with a well placed heavy right hand to the head. Kane never figured out the technique of the Launceston boy and so was caught time after time with the same shots resulting in a unanimous points victory for James.

Dan Maddock (15) made his debut appearance and faced Will Potter (15) from the Pilgrims ABC. Dan jumped on his opponent from the start with fast two fisted attacks and finding the head relatively easily due to Will's low hands and it wasn't long before the referee jumped in and gave the Plymouth boy a standing 8 count.

The pressure continued from Dan and Will did well to get to the bell. The next round saw Dan lose his composure a little with both boys now swinging at each other and missing wildly and after some advice from the corner, went into the final round as he was in the first, dominating behind straight fast shots and earned himself his first points victory.

Jon Dawe (15) also in his debut took on Alex Dovell (16) from the Combe Martin ABC. From the off, Jon found the target with good straight jabs, putting his opponent on the back foot and it wasn't long before the right hand started to land. The Launceston boy used some good skills to maximum effect causing the referee to jump in and issue a standing 8 count to Alex.

Going into round two, Jon looked to be well ahead on points and Alex fought back hard despite a very bloodied nose only to be backed up again and the third round saw the referee stop the contest in the interest of safety for the Combe Martin boxer and Jon was declared the winner.

First on for the seniors saw Ross Chard (23) who boxed Wayne Bellamy (20) from the Kingsteignton ABC. This contest was a game of chess from start to finish with both boxers trying to dominate behind the jab with both boys having their successes. The bout swayed to and fro as the boxers were a perfect match for one another. Going into the last round, the scores were still fairly even and both boys gave a final push to gain the upper hand with both landing some heavy shots to the final bell. Wayne was declared the winner with a majority points verdict.

Jameel Sandham (17) took on a very strong Mikey Biggs (18) from Gloucester ABC in a great battle of brawn versus brains. The Gloucester boy set a blistering pace with only bad intentions in mind firing very fast and hurtful looking hooks to body and head. The Launceston boy was quick on his feet and countered superbly catching Mikey with very clean scoring punches. Mikey would not drop the pace and the second round was as the first with Jameel still using very clever footwork but shipping a few hurtful bodyshots.

The third round saw a switch in tactics from the Launceston boy who went out to try and push forward with some success but Mikey was still very strong and fast with his hooks and the final bell saw the Gloucester boy declared the winner on a majority points verdict.

The final bout of the show saw Silas Keeling (18) box Mark Peach (20) from Combe Martin ABC and what a battle this proved to be. Both boxers were boxing on the back of a loss and so both were out to get the win. From the opening bell to the final bell, both boxers battled very hard, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at each other and just when you thought Silas was getting the upper hand, back came Mark to get the better of the argument. It was non stop action all the way through apart from the short breaks where both boys received a standing count.

The final bell ended what was a very hard and closely fought contest which was hailed as the best bout of the night by a very appreciative audience. There was only one point between the boxers on all three of the judges score cards with two of them awarding the win to Mark and both boxers received the bout of the night trophies.

The same day saw Launceston's Wes Smith (16) box in the national quarter finals of the Junior ABA championships. Wes had already beaten three boxers to become the Western Counties Champion but had his work cut out as he faced the reigning National champion and current NACYP champion Jonny Saunders from the St Mary's ABC in Kent.

The Launceston boy wasn't fazed and took the argument to the very cagey southpaw and tried to win the battle of the jabs. The champion was very sharp and quick on his feet and Wes landed a few very solid body shots which seemed to make the champion stand off and keep Wes at long range.

With not much in it going into the second, Wes tried to up the pace unleashing some fierce attacks but the boy from St Mary's wasn't a champion for nothing and countered with some very classy shots. The Launceston boy had it all to do in the third but the elusive southpaw was hard to hit and the final bell saw Jonny Saunders declared the winner on a unanimous points verdict with some scores reading 7-5, 6-3.

Some of the Launceston boxers were in action again on the Bodmin show on Saturday, May 16 in three terrific bouts at Lakeview Country Club.

Launceston's James Hobson (15) faced Ryan Fisher (15) from the Bodmin Club and from the opening bell, James took control of the bout landing very accurate one two combinations. The Bodmin boy tried hard to land his shots which were mainly hooks to the body but James had better footwork and a good guard and was clearly well ahead on points at the end of the first. The second was as the first but James now starting to double up his attacks. To his credit, the Bodmin boy kept coming and the third round saw him giving his all to find the target but James stuck to his boxing and finished a unanimous points winner.

Marley Seal (13) faced Ryan Faber (13) from Bodmin and continuing on from last week saw Marley displaying very neat and tidy boxing skills both in attack and defence. The taller Bodmin boy came out throwing flurries of punches which Marley blocked with his arms and gloves and countered with one or two very clean scoring shots.

Marley displayed great footwork, moving around the boxing ring like a natural and then from nowhere would launch a two or three punch attack connecting with most of them. This was a great display of skills from boxers this young and both are certainly ones to watch out for. Marley was awarded the win on points.

The final bout of the night saw Tom Ware (18) box Michael Dean (26) from Bodmin with both boys making their debut appearance in the ring. From the opening bell, the Launceston boy set off like there was no tomorrow, unleashing a massive barrage of punches to the head and body of the much taller opponent. Michael kept his composure and battled back hard but could not keep the very determined Tom away from him.

The second and third was as the first with the Launceston boy relentless in his pressure and volume of punches and the Bodmin boy picking out some good clean scoring shots. The final bell ended what was a very tough contest and Michael was declared the winner by majority points.

The Launceston Club wish to thank all the supporters and sponsors as without you there would not be any home shows. Launceston ABC are always looking for sponsors as that is the only source of income which enables the boxers to travel the country and compete.

For any enquiries about the club, please contact Des on 07812 087570. If there are any supporters that wish to be notified of all future home shows well in advance then please leave your details on the same number.

Des Charnock.