Harwich Boxing Club’s new year show was a resounding success, held at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium – the hosts winning all eight bouts, last Friday.
Welterweight Paul Gordon put in the performance of the evening, earning the ‘Best Home Boxer’ award with a unanimous points victory over Maldon opponent, Jack Martin, who is ranked 10th-best in England.
Gordon matched Martin blow for blow and then stepped his performance up a notch in the second round, forcing a standing eight-count from the referee on his bloodied opponent.
He did the same in the third, forcing another standing count to emerge a worthy winner, to the delight of the home fans.
Meanwhile, rated fifth in the English ranks, Harwich light-heavyweight Pat Allen Cripps secured a unanimous points decision, over Milton Keynes’ John Cawley, forcing the pace in the first and third – the latter with some accurate salvos from distance.
In the juniors, Stevie Martin (15) boxed the experienced Jack Wiffen, from Sudbury, and landed a unanimous points win thanks to his superior hand speed in the second and third rounds.
Sean Darvell repeated the trick when he defeated B. Lee, from Colchester, for a second time. The Harwich southpaw earned a split points decision.
Fourteen-year-old Toby Gledhill was in rampant form against R, Chapman from Norwich Diamonds, forcing a standing eight count in the first and second rounds – the latter forcing referee Simon Mullen to call a halt to proceedings.
Cameron Walker (11) opened the show with a unanimous points victory over S. Standard from Sudbury, while Killian Hardy kept his unbeaten record, whilst ending his opponent’s, S. Ives (Colchester), also with a unanimous points victory
With seven wins from seven, the pressure to complete the clean sweep for Harwich fell to the club’s senior light-heavyweight, Gavin Hewitt, against Norwich Diamonds’ A. Lindsey.
Southpaw Lindsey started every round the better, but Hewitt dug in and pulled back the difference. However, Lindsey just stayed ahead with his heavy hands and better fitness levels.
A close points decision went the way of the Harwich man, completing an historic 100% return for the club.
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