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Boxers in finals

26/ 4/2007

JAMES Barker and Scott Cardle of the Hopwood Hall Boxing Academy are through to the Junior ABA finals which will be held at Crystal Palace on Saturday 5 May.

Both featured in semi-finals last weekend.

Barker met Willy Williamson from the Southern Counties in a revenge encounter which always threatened to be a tight contest.

Two years ago Williamson took a decision from Barker which many thought was unjust, so Barker was out to prove a point.

Barker quickly took control of the contest behind his excellent jab, opening Williamson up for the right hand.

But despite his excellent work he held only a one point advantage going into the second round.

Barker applied pressure throughout the second, landing some clever right-hand counters over the guard of Williamson, but he gained only one extra point.

In the third both fighters pushed for the win, and the superior fitness and skill of the Hopwood boxer proved to be the difference.

Cardle fought Mohammed Hamifa from the Golden Ring ABC.

His aggression and power, combined with some tricky head movement, confused his opponent throughout the contest.

In the first round Cardle forced the referee to give Hamifa a standing count of eight after he had taken a right cross to the jaw. The gutsy Hamifa rallied, but Cardle again forced another standing count of eight in the second round.

To add to the troubles of the Golden Ring boxer his head-guard repeatedly came loose, and after several opportunities to rectify the problem the referee had no option but to disqualify the Southern Counties champion.