THREE of Launceston’s amateur boxers entered the 2019 Amateur Boxing Alliance Senior Novice Championships and boxed their way through to the National Finals held in London’s Sylvestrian Leisure Centre on Sunday, December 8.

Carrie Genini faced Louise Smart from the Spartans ABC in Great Yarmouth. This final was a re-run of last year’s championship that saw both girls battle it out in the finals with Genini emerging the victor. This time around, the contest was as fierce as the first encounter with both girls going hell for leather for the full duration of this 54kg contest which was held over three two-minute rounds.

Smart was faster and stronger than last time and caught Genini with hurtful looking hooks.

But the Launceston fighter dug in with her trademark ‘do or die’ mentality and had good successes of her own. Both girls battled hard to the final bell leaving it all down to the judges, who declared Smart as this year’s champion on a majority decision.

Next up saw Genini’s club mate Yaz Statton in her first ever National Finals following a solid performance a week earlier at the semi-finals in Bristol, which saw her dominate an opponent from New Addington over three rounds.

The Launceston girl squared up to Cathryn McLennan from the 2BXclub in Bromley.

This contest, again held over two three-minute rounds was one for the boxing purists which saw Statton box at long range with very accurate straight punching and great footwork.

The two-fisted McLennan tried to blast from the centre of the ring but the Launceston girl’s footwork and defence were proving near impossible to break through.

Statton landed well-timed straight right hand leads and counters to the head before moving herself out of range. The skills of ‘hit and not be hit’ were employed by Statton to the final bell which saw her a clear winner and crowned the 2019 Alliance 60kg female champion.

Launceston’s Sam Smith was set for his middleweight clash following his dominant performance at the semi-finals in Bristol a week earlier against an opponent from Kettering.

However, news came in the final few days informing him that his opponent had withdrawn from the finals, meaning Smith was declared the 2019 Class B middleweight champion.

Coach Des Charnock said: “A huge well done to all the boxers, as always, they have done themselves, the club and the Launceston community very proud.”