Harwich Boxing Club staged their 14th annual dinner audience show in conjunction with Colchester United FC, held at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

East Anglian Daily Times: Harwich's Sam Campbell, left and Sudbury�s Cameron Brookes in action.Harwich's Sam Campbell, left and Sudbury�s Cameron Brookes in action. (Image: Archant)

The host club provided 15 contests in total, with eight of their own boxers in action.

Former national junior novice champion Rio Gordon, 17, returned to action after a 15-month lay-off due to injury, in a bout with Reece Collins from West Ham ABC.

Collins was a former national champion and England international, so this had the potential to be a stern test for Gordon.

Little separated them in the opening minute, then Gordon took control as he slipped and smashed shots to head and body with much success.

This would be the pattern of the contest from here on in, as he piled the pressure onto his opponent, coming out a comprehensive unanimous points winner.

Top five English-ranked light heavyweight, Patrick Allen Cripps stepped up to cruiser weight to take on Attleborough’s Ezra Arenyeka.

Cripps pushed his opponent back for most of the contest with his fast hands and extra experience coming to the fore as he edged each round.

None-the-less, Arenyeka’s awkward style saw him have his own moments, scoring well with counter punches.

After three entertaining rounds, Patrick took the spoils on a unanimous points decision.

Another Harwich boxer to face a former national champion was 15-year-old Jack Farrow, who took on starlet George Plumb from Gateway ABC.

Jack’s boxing skills saw him take the first and did just enough to edge the second. However Plumb came storming back in the last to win the session.

After a close contest, it would be Farrow who took the decision on a split verdict.

Sam Campbell, 17, looked to record his first win at the second attempt after just dipping out on his debut contest last month.

Sudbury ABC’s Cameron Brookes provided the opposition and his high work-rate gave Campbell, who resides in Tattingstone, plenty to take think about in the opening two rounds.

A big last round combined with efficient and effective shot selection saw Cambell home on a unanimous points decision.

Leo Carty went over old ground against Tom Dickson from Centurions ABC.

The Harwich 13-year-old looked to repeat a win over Dickson, having edged him out on points last month.

History did in fact repeat itself, as Carty’s shot selection paid off in the opening two rounds, followed up by a dominant last to take a unanimous points decision.

Newcomer, Leon Baxter, 15, also faced a Centurions puncher in the shape of Aaron Eles in a lively encounter. Eles pressed throughout the contest, however

Baxter’s accurate shots found the mark time and time again.

The tall and extremely game Eles walked into too much trouble in the last session though, suffering two standing counts, resulting in a referee stoppage in favour of the Harwich boxer.

Junior, Cameron Walker dropped a split decision against West Ham’s John Jarvis and 17-year-old Killian Hardy struggled to find his range before dropping a points decision to St Ives ABC’s Shahzad Aslam.

At the end of the night, Harwich head coach, Marin Webb said: “All the coaches are really pleased to score six wins from eight overall, with Rio Gordan’s performance a stand out.

“Considering the quality of opposition, his new lower weight category and his length of ring absence due to injury, his return was most impressive. He now boxes in the East Anglian final at Tilbury, on February 3 and on this form can do well.

“It was also good to see Jack Farrow bounce back after suffering a poor run of form to record a significant, albeit close win, against another quality opponent.

“Pat Allen Cripps kept the momentum of his season going with a workmanlike win, However will now drop back down a weight and campaign at the light

heavyweight category for the rest of the season.

“Finally, it was good to see strength in depth, with some of the new kids coming through so well.”