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Disappointment for Ward

13/ 3/2008

THERE was disappointment for Kildare Ward when he fought in the national finals of the Royal Navy Golden Gloves Championships.

Ward, who lives in Middleton, but boxes out of the Darnhill and Heywood club, came up against John King (Repton) in the Class One 46kgs showdown.

The atmosphere was electric in the Knottingley Leisure Centre as more than 100 fans cheered Ward into the ring.

He quickly forced King onto the ropes with an excellent double jab - straight right combination, but King showed great footwork to get out of trouble.

Ward closed in again to catch King with a couple of rights, and King replied by whipping in some hooks.

The second round became more tactical. Ward was the pressure fighter, and King the slippery counter-puncher.

Ward upped the tempo in the third and landed hooks to head and body, but King also landed with hooks and uppercuts.

It was close, but the referee raised King's arm at the end.

THE Hopwood Hall College Boxing Academy can boast another national champion.

Brickwork and Construction student Tom Stubbs won a British championship in London last Saturday evening.

Stubbs, who also boxes for Northside ABC, was up against Welsh champion Jay Harris who went into the final with an impressive fight record of 15 wins from 18 contests.

Throughout the fight the Hopwood boxer used his unorthodox style to frustrate his opponent, changing the angles of the shots and switch hitting.

His lead hand proved to be the key to the championship, as he scored at will then pivoted off at an angle to catch Harris with a left hook.

The final score was a convincing 12-5, and it could easily have been a greater margin.

Jed Bloor (A Level Business Studies) boxed in the Class A British final in Sheffield last Friday evening.

He was unfortunate to meet an in form James Dickens from the Golden Gloves Gym in Liverpool.

Bloor gave his all throughout the contest, but Dickens always had the edge in skill and scored with some telling shots in the early rounds.

Bloor rallied in the final round, but the points difference was too great.

Dickens was rightly awarded the decision by 15 points to 4.