HURSTLEA ABC boxer, Cuban-born Yisan Rodriguez, who made a miraculous recovery from a potentially career-threatening injury, takes on Bristol’s Sam Pomphrey in the ABA quarter-finals on Sunday.

HURSTLEA ABC boxer, Cuban-born Yisan Rodriguez, who made a miraculous recovery from a potentially career-threatening injury, takes on Bristol’s Sam Pomphrey in the ABA quarter-finals on Sunday.

Rodriguez, who suffered a punctured lung and a hole just below his right collarbone after being knocked off his bike after being hit by a car door, clinched the Eastern Counties ABA championship last weekend with a comprehensive victory over Chris Redding, at Gorleston.

The winner of the Caribbean cruiserweight’s clash with Pomphrey, at the Halfway House, Brentwood, will go on to face the winner of the London and Combined Services ABA event.

“Yisan is very fit and strong with good hand-speed and is a good all-round package,” said coach Keith James.

Two other Hurstlea boxers, Danny Baldry and Karl Foster were due to appear on a show at Debenham tonight, but have been left disappointed after their opponents pulled out.

Danny Baldry, who lives at the Rampant Horse pub in Newmarket was preparing to make his debut at 65kg, while top club prospect Karl Foster was set to face Ipswich’s Shaun Higgins at 72kg.

“I think we have a current champion and a future champion,” said James, referring to Rodriguez and Foster, who is unbeaten in six amateur contests.

“Yisan is raring to go for Sunday while in Karl, I think we have a lad that can go a long way.”

n Gutsy Lowestoft boxer Cameron Wade made it third time lucky as he answered a late call to see off the challenge of past nemesis, Attleborough’s Levi Dennis.

The 13-year-old had boxed and lost to Levi twice before, both in close decisions, and agreed without hesitation.

From the opening bell, Cameron moved forward with a determined glint in his eye, taking the action to the Attleborough boxer.

The two young boxers moved with class as they exchanged combinations at a fast and furious pace but neither actually took control, as they both used the ring superbly, with Levi probably edging the first round.

Cameron upped the pace in the second round and really put Levi under pressure as he moved forward using the angles to get inside of the long reach of a very skilful opponent.

Near the end of the round the Lowestoft boxer got through with a solid left and right that had the knees of Levi dipping slightly. Cameron’s opponent rallied to the end of the round, but Cameron had seen and took note of the chink in his opponents armour.

In the final session Cameron was not letting Levi off the hook and was persistently cutting the ring off and getting inside of his long reach and scoring with his own straight punches.

Cameron’s unanimous points decision was greeted with approval from appreciate crowd who knew they had been treated to an excellent contest.