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16/12/2008
Ireland U21 V England U21 (Friday 12 December 2008)
We were invited to take part in an Under 21 Team Match by Ireland ABA (IABA). The IABA hold an Under 21 Championships each season with a few changes to the recognized International weight categories. National Coach Mick Gannon, set up two separate one day training camps on Saturday 6 December 2008, North held in Liverpool and South held in London, with the Boxers being split accordingly by area.
The Team assembled on Thursday 11 December 2008 to fly to Ireland, again split according to area, South flying from Luton with the Boxers reporting to Coach, George Burton and North flying from Liverpool with the Boxers reporting to the Team Manager. All Boxers weights were checked at the Airport to ensure there were no problems. Both flights arrived in Dublin within 10 minutes of each other so the whole Team then traveled by coach to the Hotel via the National Stadium where the Boxing was to be held.
We held a Team Meeting with the whole of the Team at 2100hrs with Billy Morgan, West Ham Boys Club, being given the Honour of Team Captain. Track Suits were then presented to the Boxers. The Senior Referee, Keith Brooking spoke to the Boxers with reference to what would be expected by the R&Js during the boxing. The Team Manager and National Coach spoke reference behavior and etiquette whilst on International Tournaments. The Performance Director, Alan Lynch spoke to the Boxers reference selection. Details for the following day were given and everyone dispersed to their rooms.
After breakfast the whole Team then went into the City centre, only a 10 minute walk to do a bit of sight seeing, shopping etc.
We held another Team Meeting at 1500hrs to present the Boxers with their kit and to talk through the evenings programme.
We traveled to the National Stadium at 1815hrs. The National Stadium is a purpose built arena and an excellent venue, although a little cold at this time of year. On arrival we had Team photographs taken and were given a brief reference a Ring Parade before boxing commenced at approx 1950hrs. Ireland names first:
48kg) Maurice Lally V Chris Blinkhorn (Won RSC 1)
Both lads boxing out of an orthodox stance, this bout was very one sided right from the start with Chris rocking his opponents head back with the jab. He quickly followed up with the backhand and forced a standing count. On resuming Chris was on the attack, very controlled with both hands, every shot seemingly knocking back the head of Lally. The Referee stepped in and gave Lally a second count and then stopped the contest. A good win from a very good emerging talent.
51kg) Gary Molloy V Adam Whitfield (Lost 8 - 5)
This bout started a bit untidy, both lads getting a bit tied up on the inside. The boxing got cleaner as the round went on with southpaw Molloy taking a 2 - 1 lead. In the second round Molloy stood off from Adam, countering with quick one twos, ending 4 - 1. In the third Adam put more pressure on, closing down his range a little and scoring with the backhand, Molloy continuing to counter, the round ended 6 - 4. The last was similar to the third but Adam was unfortunate not to have gained a couple more points,
but Molloy was a worthy winner.
54kg) Daniel Coughlan V Leigh Wood (Won 9 - 3)
Leigh boxed very relaxed with the left hand low, enticing the southpaw Coughlan to come in to him. Leigh was very sharp with both hands taking a 4 - 0 lead. At the start of the second round Leigh was still very relaxed to the extent that his left boot came off. He was now in control of the centre of the ring scoring with long left hooks, second ending 6 - 0. Coughlan switched to orthodox and had his first success with a backhand, Leigh now had to move his feet more to counter, which he did to take an 8 - 1 lead into the last. Leigh was now boxing on the counter and switched off briefly, allowing Coughlan in. However he soon regained control to win 9 - 3.
57kg) Paul Nolan V Billy Morgan (Won 23 - 3)
Billy gave a superb Captains performance from the start to the finish, the scoring of the rounds going from 5 - 0, 10 - 1, 15 - 3 to 23 - 3. Billy was far to good technically for his upright orthodox opponent, scoring with lovely long shots and hooks. His movement of the feet complimented his punching. A superb backhand forced a standing count in the forth, but Nolan was a tough lad who kept on trying. I feel I am doing Billy a disservice by not writing much, but all I can say is it was a complete two handed boxing performance.
60kg) Gavin Keating V Joe Rodgers (Lost 10 - 4)
Both lads boxed orthodox, with Keating having a very tight guard. Joe scored with a left hook to the head but lost the first round 2 - 1 to backhands. In the second round Keating kept his tight high guard in place and picked up a three more points with the back hand, with Joe also picking up a couple of points, 5 - 3. The third round saw Keating pick up another three points and unfortunately none of Joes good work with both hands being rewarded, the round ending 8 - 3. The last round was the same as the third, a lot of shots not scoring for both lads. Keating won the bout fair, but a closer score than the 10 - 4 would have been more apt.
64kg) James Ferrin V Craig Greenwood (Won 13 - 4)
Ferrin, very tall, upright, orthodox, was well beaten by a controlled and composed show of boxing by Craig. Controlled two handed bursts from Craig gave him a 4 - 1 lead in the first. In the second, Craig introduced a few left hook - backhand combinations to take an 8 - 2 lead. The third saw Craig again attack two handed from a really composed stance, this was Ferrin's most successful round picking up a couple of points with the backhand, 12 - 4. In the forth Craig went on to the back foot, making Ferrin miss with nice movement. A little two handed burst by Craig right at the end saw him pick up another point for an excellent win 13 - 4.
64kg) Larry Fryers V Craig Callaghan (Won 14 - 9)
Fryers, stocky, powerful orthodox Boxer was loading up trying to land big shots, Craig stood tall and scored with the backhand from long range, first round ending 2 - 1 up. The bout got a bit scrappy at times with Craig slipping/pushed to the canvas. The second round finished in a flurry of punches with both lads picking up points, 5 - 4 up.
The third round was very frustrating to watch, not because of the performance but a lot of good clean backhands were not being scored for Craig. Fryers was now trying to close the range more, still loading up, the round ended Craig 6 - 5 up. The forth started with both lads getting a warning, Craig for use of the shoulder and Fryers for pushing/throwing. This changed the bout as both lads then upped their game and both put good two handed combinations together for a final score of 14 - 9.
67kg) Jason Quigley V Ben Falaja (Lost 6- 4)
This bout was a tactful affair to begin with, both orthodox boxers standing tall, looking to out think the other. The first two rounds went Quigley's way, leading 2 - 0 then 3 - 0
Ben applied more pressure in the third round and looked to have turned the bout around but was still behind 3 - 2 going into the last. Again Ben put Quigley under pressure and he took the lead for the first time with about 30 seconds to go. Somehow Quigley picked up another two points whilst Ben went unrewarded, this is by no means a bad reflection on Quigley, but Ben was very unfortunate not to have won this bout.
71kg) John Joe Joyce V Tom Jones (Lost 6 - 3)
Two tall orthodox lads, the bout started at a slow pace, both lads waiting for the other to lead off. Tom scored with a lovely sharp backhand as Joyce pushed in trying to take the initiative. Joyce scored with a backhand of his own to end the first 1 - 1. Joyce put the pressure on in the second keeping Tom moving backwards, scoring with the jab and backhand to take a 4 - 1 lead. In the third Tom didn't allow himself to be forced back as much and picked up a point, again with the straight backhand. The forth started with Joyce leading 4 - 2, both lads threw more punches in this round to end the bout 6 - 3.
75kg) Stephen O Reilly V Frank Buglioni (Lost 10 - 7)
Both lads started well, putting in controlled two handed attacks, both covering up with good defence. Frank then started to work to head and body to take a 3 - 1 lead. The second round was similar for both orthodox Boxers, but scoring punches seemed to be getting missed by the Judges. Second round ended Frank 4 - 3 up. O Reilly was adjudged to have had a really good third round taking a lead of 7 - 5, with both lads working on the inside. There were good exchanges in the last, again working to head and body. 10 - 7 to O Reilly but could have gone either way.
81kg) Stephen Ward V Michael Fielding (Won 10 - 3)
Two orthodox boxers put on a very good bout. Both lads were strong but were looking to out box each other rather than throw big power punches. Michael took the first round 1 - 0 with a lovely left hook to the body. Ward put pressure on to Michael in the second, trying to close him down and keeping him on the ropes. Ward scored with a jab and a straight backhand, the round ending 2 - 2. The third started with Michael scoring with the left hook to the body again, this seemed to give him the edge and he scored with backhands to the head. The forth round started with Michael 5 - 2 up. Ward pushed forward in the hope of closing the deficit, but Michael was now sharp with both hands to head and body to take a much deserved win in a closer bout than the score suggests by 10 - 3.
86kg) Ciaran McAuley V Alfie Sackie (Lost 13 - 12)
This was a bout between two very powerful orthodox boxers, neither of which intended to give away an inch of ground to the other. Both lads stood and traded very good body shots from start to finish and because neither lad was holding nor leaning on they were scoring, first round ended Alfie 3 - 1 up, but the second seen a turnaround for McAuley to lead 8 - 5. The third seen Alfie pull the score back to within 1 point to be 10 - 9 down. In the forth Alfie seemed to be doing enough to go in front and right near the end McAuley was given a standing count from a very hard right hook. An exciting bout that Alfie was unlucky to lose 13 - 12.
91kg) Patrick Corcoran V Karl Tierney (Lost RSCI 4)
Corcoran was very tall, both lads orthodox. A slow bout with neither lad looking to lead off and take the initiative. The scoring went first round 2 - 1 Corcoran, a good body shot made the second 3 - 1. A two handed exchange seen the score go to 5 - 2 at the end of the third. In the forth, Karl received a small cut to the bridge of his nose, the doctor inspected the injury and stopped the contest.
91kg+) Joe Joyce V Jack Radford (Lost 12 - 2)
Two very big orthodox Boxers. Both moved well for such big lads, looking to box each other. Joyce went 2 - 0 up in the first. The second saw both lads throwing long straight backhands with Joyce being the most successful, taking a 5 - 1 lead. In the third Jack tried to push forward but was a bit out of range, his shots falling short. A two handed burst by Joyce seen him pick up another 2 points at the end of the round, 7 - 1. Joyce had a good forth round with much cleaner work to win by 12 - 2. A good learning bout for Jack.
Final Score of 8 - 6 to Ireland. In three of the bouts the result could have gone our way but all in all a very good learning experience for our Boxers. We all then went to the Ringside Club inside the National Stadium for a meal and Team Presentations. Both Dominic O Rourke, the President of IABA and myself spoke of the great friendship and more importantly the benefit that the close relationship between IABA and ABAE has proven over the past couple of years, with both Countries Boxers picking up Medals in Tournaments and Championships all over the world, long may it continue. An excellent Tournament, with a very big thank you to our Hosts, IABA, their hospitality and organization was once again first class.
Thank you and well done to all our Boxers, Coaches Mick Gannon, National Coach, Chris Cain, Merseyside & Cheshire ABA, George Burton, London ABA, the R&Js, Keith Brooking, Police Association, Fred Davies, Midland Counties ABA, Paul Allen, Tyne Tees ABA and Alan Lynch, ABAE Performance Director.
John Hallam -Team Manager