LAUNCESTON’s Carrie Genini was crowned the Class A under 54kg national champion at the Amateur Boxing Alliance 2018 Novice Championship finals on Sunday (November 18) at the Hayes Working Men’s Club in London.

Genini faced Louise Smart from the Spartans club in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and from the opening bell, both girls set a ferocious pace, unleashing non-stop two fisted attacks on one another and it was clear to see that both had one thing on their mind, to become the champion.

The Spartans boxer was fast and quickly found openings through Genini’s defences, connecting with accurate shots to the head forcing the referee to intervene and issue a standing eight-count. However the Launceston boxer was not fazed and battled back hard to the end of the first bell.

The second-round saw Genini pick up from where she left off and her unrelenting pressure paid off, backing her opponent to the ropes connecting with body shots and head shots forcing a standing eight count. But Smart would not be denied and battled back hard to the end of the round, meaning it was all to play for in the decider.

Genini dug deep and her strength and determination was having an effect, with Smart looking the more tired of the two and the Launceston boxer had much more suuccess with eye-catching right hand leads to the head, once again forcing another standing eight-count. The final bell concluded an epic and very crowd-pleasing contest which saw Genini’s hand raised as the champion.

Trainer Des Charnock said: “Carrie has worked so hard in the run up to these championships and to see it all come together on the day was totally awesome. Carrie’s courage and commitment was second to none and I am tremendously proud of her. Well done to her, she completely deserved her national title.”

The previous weekend saw club mate Brandon Charnock (15) travel over to Waltham Abbey to face Stevenage’s Oliver Culling (15) in their semi-final clash for the Novice title on Sunday.

From the opening bell, the much taller and snappier Culling took control of the centre of the ring behind fast accurate jabs.

Charnock soon found his feet, making his opponent miss a lot and firing back with solid right hands to the body and head

The Hertfordshire fighter battled hard to keep Charnock backed up to the ropes but the Launceston boy was as slippery as they come and out manoeuvred him on the ropes. The second round was as the first with both boxers having their successes leaving it all to play for in the third.

Culling came out and threw everything that he had with Charnock being as elusive as ever but neglecting his own attacks and the final bell closed a very entertaining contest.

Culling’s hand was raised as the winner with a unanimous points decision. However, this was one of Charnock’s best performances to date and lots more to come from him.

Launceston’s Sam Smith faced Don Mole from Broad Street ABC in London on the Barnstaple show on Saturday, November 10.

From the opening bell, Smith was cool, calm and collected and controlled his opponent at long-range unleashing solid jabs and very fierce looking straight rights keeping Mole backed up.

Ten seconds before the end of the first-round, Smith connected with a thunderous right-hand left-hook combination that would have knocked down a horse. But his opponent stood tall and was probably pleased to hear the bell.

The second-round saw Smith up the tempo blasting with both hands with the brave Londoner, who’s eye was now swollen shut, refusing to give in and the bell ended a dominant round for the man from Altarnun.

However the bout was called to a halt with Mole’s corner retiring him due to the severe swelling around the eye, meaning Smith was declared the winner.

To find out more, search ‘Launceston Amateur Boxing Club’ on Facebook.