Championship Success For Islington Pair
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Islington Boxing Club had cause for a double celebration as two of their boxers (Jordan & Aarron Morgan) won Senior ABAE National Novice Titles at Class B, held at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, on Saturday 10th December.
Islington teenager Jordan Grannum (pictured above) , won his second national title in a little under 12 months, this time at Class B (under 67 kgs), as he outfought Steel City's Caiden Onfroy in a bout which saw Grannum turn almost certain defeat into victory and claim an amazing 26-24 points win.
A big right hand from Onfroy right at the start of the bout, clearly shook Grannum and signalled Onfroy's intentions. A couple of useful jabs from Grannum evened things up in the opening round.
In the second, Grannum tried putting Onfroy on the back foot, but the Sheffield man was proving to be stubborn resistance, as he bullied Grannum back onto the ropes where he unleashed punches with both hands. Grannum came back with an eye catching left, right, left combination. Grannum caught Onfroy with two lefts to the body, but Onfroy shook it off and landing with body punches of his own.
Round three began with a triple jab from Grannum, followed by a right that narrowly missed, backed up Onfroy onto the ropes. A right hand caught Onfroy on the side of the head, but yet again, the Steel City boxer came back and landed scoring punches of his own. Both boxers were finally starting to feel the pace.
Going into the final session, and with Grannum somewhat surprisingly 21-14 points down, was told in no uncertain terms by his corner, that he needed an incredible effort in the last if he wanted to claim the title.
And that is exactly what Grannum produced. The action started with a right from Onnfroy, thus putting the Islington boxer even further behind, but from then on in it was all one way traffic. Lefts, rights and body punches rained in on Onfroy from all angles. With only 20 seconds remaining and the scores finely in the balance at 24-24, Grannum scored with two big rights at the death to win it.
Islington's Aaron Morgan, claimed his first national title (Class B under 75kgs), beating former class A champion Kyle Rabaca, from the Skelmersdale Police ABC. Morgan started brightly, peppering his taller opponent with left jabs and right hands. Rabaca, kept marching forward, but only succeeded in meeting the fast hands of Morgan.
The second round saw Morgan switch the attack to the body and roll out of the way of Kabaca's heavy looking right hands. Three straight rights from Morgan momentarily buckled the legs of his opponent.
The third round, started with Rabaca scoring with an overhand right, but back came Morgan with a fast one-two which found the target. Another three punch combination and it looked as if Rabaca would struggle to go the distance. Rabaca however, and much to his credit stormed back with shots of his own.
After three rounds and with Morgan in an assailable points lead (33-19), Morgan's corner told their man not to risk anything against such a dangerous opponent. Morgan, however, and not for the first time in this tournament, decided giving the crowd value for money as being more important!
Both stood and traded punches right from the start of the round. Two big rights from Rabaca, followed a left hook made Morgan hold. Morgan tried to fight back, but Rabaca's sheer strength was starting to take it's toll. Another flurry from Rabaca had Morgan in clear distress, and it looked like Morgan had blown his moment in the sun. But a three punch volley from Morgan told Rabaca his opponent was still very much in it.
The crowd were on their feet at the bell. The final score was 39-26 t Morgan.
Bout reports by Bevis Allen and Photos Dieter Perry.