09/06/2009

England v Ulster

4th - 6th June 2009, Belfast.

A senior international competition between England and Ireland took place last week, with England representatives chosen from their performances at the ABAE Senior Championship quarter and semi finals.

Prior to the competition was a joint training camp on 17^th May, which included boxers from England and Ireland, as well as those taking part in the three nation BABA Championships at the end of May.

The overall score was Ulster - 6, England - 3

Report by Mick Gannon

Winners are in bold

48kg Paul Kayes v Sam Smith (Kingsheath, Midlands)

It didn't take Sam too long to work his opponent out. Sam had too many moves for the Irish boxer, and steadily increased his lead. This was a good learning bout for Sam after recently coming back after a year out. 11:3

51kg Ruari Dalton v Phillip Smith (Stockbridge, Merseyside)

Dalton quickly took the lead with his very skilful and fast rear hand counters. In the second round Smith started to get back at his opponent to close the gap. In the third Smith didn't keep to his game plan and was caught regularly with counters, lunging in from too far out. 10:4

57kgMarc McCullough v Lewis Pettit (Nemesis, London)

An another excellent Irish counter puncher who took the first round 7:1. Pettit came back in the second to hurt his opponent with cracking body shots. In the third the English boxer pressured his opponent throughout, giving him a count. Pettit won the third, but because of the generous scoring to the Irish lad in the first round, it wasn't enough for a win. 12:10

60kg Eamon Finnegan v Antonio Counihan(Eastside, Solihull)

The second meeting for these two boxers an Counihan's first 3x3's. Finnegan was not going to let Counihan settle, and at the close of the first the score was 1pt each. Half way through the second, Counihan started to catch his opponent with clean rear hands and good scoring shots between combinations. In the third, Counihan had the measure of his opponent and notched up a second win against his Irish opponent. 6:2

64kgsStephen Donnelly v Andy Townend (Hard 'n' Fast, Yorkshire)

Another second-time-around contest. A brilliant hard-hitting bout throughout, with Townend leading after the first and second rounds. At the end of the third, it looked as if Townend had done enough to secure the bout. However, the scores were tied 8:8, and the judges scored the bout on count back to the Ulster boxer. 20:17

69kgs Connor Coyle v Tommy Langford (Hall Green, Midlands)

The exceptionally fast hands of Langford gave his Irish opponent a real problem, leaving him to trail in the first two rounds. In the third round he seemed to completely run away with the bout. However the scores again were tied, this time 6:6, with the judges giving it to the Irish man. 13:10

69kgMichael Busted v Adam Grigg (Golden Ring, Southern)

Another close bout with Grigg ahead for the first two rounds of a hard-hitting contest. Both boxers very powerfully built and both southpaws. After a very tight third round the judges gave Busted the win. 6:4

81kg Steven Donnelly v Jimmy McCann (Kettering SOB, Midlands)

The two biggest men of the tournament really pleased the crowd, with toe-to-toe action throughout. Although McCann won convincingly, his Irish opponent gave him a bout he really had to work at. 8:1

69kgNiall McGinley v Ahmet Patterson (Fitzroy Lodge, London)

Ahmet earned his first vest for England showing no respect for his very experienced Irish opponent, catching him with lead left hooks with alarming regularity. At times throughout the bout it looked as if the Irish boxer had run out of ideas to cope with the speed of Patterson's hands. Although Patterson led after two rounds and appeared to have comfortably won the third, the scores were tied 6:6 and on countback the judges gave it to McGinley. 15:12

Summary

The main aim was for these boxers to enjoy their first taste of international competition. A great night's boxing with only one count and no stoppages. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment. The inexperienced England team's performance was outstanding. The boxers were great ambassadors for the ABAE and were magnanimous in defeat. Five of the team were earning their first England senior vest with the rest, bar one, earning their second.

Thanks to the Irish for typically first class hospitality, and to English support staff Alan Keast and Martin Utley, who were outstanding support coaches in the preparation of boxers both before entering the ring and in assisting the national coach to run the tour smoothly.

The Team

Head coach/team manager Mick Gannon BEM, national coaches Alan Keast (Midlands regional coach), Martin Utley (Yorkshire regional coach), officials Lee Innes and Jeff Connell.

Boxers

48kgs Sam Smith Kingsheath ABC Midlands

51kgs Phil Smith Stockbridge ABC Merseyside

57kgs Lewis Pettit Nemesis ABC London

60kgs Antonio Counihan Eastside ABC Midlands

64kgs Andy Townend Hard n Fast ABC Yorkshire

69kgs Adam Grigg Golden Ring ABC Southern Counties

69kgs Tommy Langford Hall Green ABC Midlands

69kgs Ahmet Patterson Fitzroy Lodge ABC London

81kgs Jimmy McCann Kettering SOB ABC Midlands