There was another action-packed evening here in the town just a couple of weeks ago, when 15 young boxers from Newark Amateur Boxing Club aged between 11 and 17 walked out into the ring on Saturday 20 May.
“Fans, friends, families and sponsors of the NABC boxers all enjoyed a great night over at Newark Sports & Fitness Centre on Lord Hawke Way, something they’re more than used to whenever the Home Show comes to town,” said Suggy’s Gym’s head coach Dean Sugden.
“In addition to the three Skills bouts which started the evening, there were four Schools bouts, four Junior bouts and four Youth bouts, one of which was for an East Midlands Challenge Belt.
“After those Schools, Junior and Youth bouts, we came out with six wins and six losses. At the end of the evening, local spectators and coaches from visiting clubs all had plenty of good feedback about the event, telling matchmaker Irvine Taylor how exciting and competitive all the bouts were, and one of the visiting coaches echoed this, telling corner man Sid Yeomans he thought it was really well set out and run.
“Our pro boxer Chad Sugden, another corner man on the night, said afterwards that it was action from the start with some really high-level boxing master classes and some non-stop back and forth three round wars, showcasing some of Newark’s finest talent in the amateur boxing game.”
The show kicked off at 6.30pm with the three skills bouts, each one consisting of three 1-minute rounds, in which 11-year-olds Harrison Gent and Leon Jordan and 12-year-old Jackson Daws represented Newark ABC against Alireza Ahmady, Junior Chuck Fury and Freddy Gaughan respectively.
“If those skills bouts were real bouts, all three Newark boxers would have had their hands raised as they took control and set the tone for a great night of amateur boxing,” said Dean.
Next on the card were the four Schools bouts, each one made up of three 1.5-minute rounds.
First up for the home team was 12-year-old Isaiah Francis, boxing Peterborough Police Boxing Club’s Musa Ahmed at -37kg, a bout that ended in a unanimous win for Isaiah.
He was followed by Joel Cook, aged 13, whose -38kg match up with Allcomers ABC’s John Browning ended in another win for Newark, this one by a split decision.
“There was a second split decision result in the next one, this time in favour of Singh Jeevan from City of Leicester Lightning ABC who defeated Newark’s 14-year-old Thomas Newbury in their -46kg bout, although I thought we had done enough to win this one,” said Dean.
The fourth and final Schools bout of the night, this one at -52kg, ended in another unanimous win for the home team when 14-year-old James Jordan defeated Timperley Community ABC’s Dan Ponder.
Next on the card were the Junior bouts, made up of three 2-minute rounds, the first one at -45kg between NABC’s Robert Price, aged 14, and Rough & Ready Boxing Academy’s Sam Luck which added another win to the home team’s list, this one by second round stoppage.
The fifth win of the night for Newark, described by Dean as probably the fight of the night, came in the following match up which saw 15-year-old Paddy Rooney take the victory by unanimous decision in his -49kg bout against Callum Astall from Golden Team ABC.
Heading towards the interval the next bout was between Nathan Sanderson, also 15, who was up against Bayleigh Lockyer from Mighty Mariners Boxing Academy in a -55kg contest that ended in a victory by split decision for Bayleigh.
In the last Junior bout of the evening, Sherringtons Boxing Club’s Lewis McPherson was really lucky to take the win as he was being outboxed when his 96kg fight was stopped after Newark’s Teddy Tooley suffered a nosebleed in the third round with only seconds to go.
The final fights of the night were Youth bouts, also made up of three 2-minute rounds, with 17-year-old Shady Hardy boxing at -56kg for the home team in the first one against Ingle Boxing Academy’s Gabriel Nicola who took the win by a split decision.
But there was another win by unanimous decision for Newark when 17-year-old Travis Dunwell defeated Worcester City ABC’s Alfie Butler in their -61kg bout.
Then it was time for Newark’s Chloe Davis, also aged 17, to walk into the ring for her -66kg East Midlands Challenge Belt contest against Ellie Abraham from Weedon Boxing Academy, which saw Ellie win the belt by a split decision.
“Returning to the ring after a long layoff, Chloe performed exceptionally well and I thought maybe just nicked it with some slick boxing,” said Dean. “But when they are this close you can’t be unhappy if you lose on a split and I’m sure we’ll see these two girls do battle again.”
The evening came to an end with a -65kg bout between Newark’s 17-year-old Laeton Kennedy and Ryan Bachra from City of Leicester Lightning ABC which saw Ryan take the win by a stoppage in the second round.
“A lot of hard work goes into bringing shows like these together, not only on the night but in the run up to that first bell too,” said Dean.
“So I have to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, from both the home team and from the visiting clubs. Thanks as well to all the sponsors, whose support is so important, to everyone who bought tickets for the show to cheer on the boxers…
“And last but by no means least, to all of the boxers themselves, without whom we wouldn’t be able to put on such first-class events here in Newark.”
SUGGY'S GYM 
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