HARWICH Amateur Boxing Club senior Jack Shirmer returned to the ring with a bang, after three years out, gaining a majority points victory over Hornchurch and Elm Park’s Ryan Attreed.

Shirmer was one of three winners on the night for the home club, at their annual show, with Tommie Smith and debutant Zak Avalon also notching up victories.

Shirmer was roared on by the home crowd at the town’s park pavilion, settling early in the opening session and sticking to his boxing.

Shirmer kept his shorter opponent at bay with crisp straight punches, although the Hornchurch boxer did have his success at times when he forced the Harwich man into close quarters.

However, the home boxer was not to be denied on his return to the ring and, lifted by his hometown support, picked his shots to good effect in the final session to record the victory.

Senior featherweight Joey Avenell, meanwhile, took on Bodyshots ABC’s Martin Hillman over four, two-minute rounds.

With both boxers full of experience it was always going to be a close contest and Hillman began brightly, using his superior reach to good effect in the opening two sessions.

However, Avenell upped his work rate as the bout wore on, catching Hillman with straight right hands as he advanced.

With the bout on a knife-edge, it was not to be for the Harwich boxer in an entertaining bout, as he dropped a very tight majority decision.

Tommie Smith recorded Harwich’s first win earlier in the evening against Calvin Corruthers of Centurions ABC/Colchester.

Corruthers started the better, keeping Smith at bay with his long reach, forcing the Harwich boxer onto the back foot.

An improved Smith started to land some telling blows in the second session with eye-catching right-hooks to the body slowing Corruthers down.

He continued the improved work in the final session with the referee issuing two standing eight counts to the Centrurions boxer resulting in Smith picking up the victory inside the distance.

Debutant Callum Roberto-Sparkes missed out in a hard-fought contest, on points, to Erik Ciureja of Fenland Sparta ABC.

Fellow debutant Zak Avalon took on first-timer Ryan Montieth of Beewise ABC (Southend). After an entertaining three rounds of non-stop punching from the Harwich boxer, he was rewarded with a well-deserved unanimous points decision.

John Wheatley went over old ground against Afolabi of Essex University. In a close encounter, with neither boxer really gaining any initiative, Afolabi took the spoils on a majority decision.

Patrick Allen-Cripps looked to continue his recent winning streak as he took on Ryan Ayton of Centurions ABC/Colchester. With these two boxers facing each other previously, it would be the Harwich lad’s counter punching that really caught the eye in the opening session.

However, Ayton’s continual advances took their toll and he earned the spoils on a unanimous points nod.

Earlier in the evening, Harwich’s Frazer Mann and Steve Martin opened the show against Billericay opponents in no decision skills bouts.

Harwich ABC’s next show will be held at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on January 18, 2013. For more details go to www.cu-fc.com or call 01206 752443