Launceston Amateur Boxing Club duo Tyler Gregory and Billy Jago travelled over to the Cheshunt ABC show in Hertfordshire on Saturday night to compete against tough opposition over three 90-second round contests.

First up for Launceston saw 11-year-old Jago square up to Alfie Gillam (11) from the Epping club in Essex. The opening bell saw the Epping boxer rush out, unleashing a barrage of punches but Billy was ready and used clever footwork to sidestep the attacks and counter with solid jabs and right crosses to the head.

Jago controlled the range — making the strong looking Gillam fall short with his punches and countered well with straight right hands that snapped Gillam’s head back. The bell came to end the first-round with the Launceston youngster ahead on the scorecards.

The second 90-second stanza saw Jago step up his work-rate with a ‘start first and finish last’ approach leading off with fast accurate jabs, slipping the counter attacks and then connecting with solid right-hand left-hook combinations that again snapped back the head forcing the referee to intervene and issue a standing eight-count to Gillam.

The Launceston boxer continued to force the pace and connect with more solid shots to the head, forcing the referee to call a halt to the contest with Billy being declared the winner.

Next up saw Tyler Gregory (13) face Teddy Lethbridge (13) from the host club. Once again, the opening bell saw a fast starting Lethbridge unleashing two-fisted attacks with the Launceston boxer utilising great defences and footwork to keep his opponent at bay, countering with fast combinations of his own. Lethbridge maintained the pace and work-rate and the bell concluded a fairly close round.

The next round saw the Launceston boxer pick up his own pace and attack with three and four-punch combinations before moving out of range to avoid the counters. Lethbridge battled back hard to close down the range with more two-fisted flurries with the majority of shots being caught on Gregory’s arms. Both boxers had successes with the bell concluding another very close round.

The third and final round saw Greogory bite down hard on his gum shield, hold his feet and go to war with Lethbridge and both boxers threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other and again both warriors had their successes.

The final bell concluded a thrilling end to a very close and hard-fought contest with the result being left in the hands of the three judges.

Lethbridge’s hand was raised as the winner on a unanimous points decision.

Reflecting on their performances, coach Des Charnock said: “I was so proud of the boys’ performances, both were outstanding and both were well appreciated by the spectators. Very well done to them both.”