Skip to content
Main Content
09/06/2008
England v Ireland and Wales team manager report
Venue: Everton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, June 7th 2008
England hosted teams from Ireland and Wales in two tournaments - an England v Ireland schoolboy competition for boxers born in 1994, and a tournament for junior, female and senior boxers between all three nations.
The second tournament was initially planned as an England v Ireland tournament, but the schedule of the Irish senior team meant that this was impossible. Ireland provided a team consisting of youth and female boxers, as did Wales.
The Irish team arrived on Friday 6 June and were accommodated in the Britannia Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, situated approximately one mile from the venue. Wales arrived the following day.
The England Team was selected from the North West Counties ABA, and included not only established international boxers, but also boxers identified by national coach Mick Gannon and NWCABA regional coach Tony Challinor at Recognition Squads.
After a parade and presentations in the ring by all boxers, coaches and team managers, the national anthems of all three nations signalled the start of a great evening's entertainment.
Having being examined by Dr Naj Ahmed, Sean Duffy, Ireland's youth boxer at 60kg, was found to have a high temperature and was feeling unwell, so was not allowed to box, obviously leaving his opponent Ryan Mulcahy very disappointed.
Bout 1 - female junior 60kg
Lauren Wilson (Knowsley Vale ABC, Eng) 9 v Erin Nugent (Immaculata, Ire) 19
This was a very exciting bout to get the boxing underway. Both girls started with fast two handed exchanges, with Wilson initially scoring the cleaner punches to the head. However, as the first round drew to a close, Nugent had started to land the harder shots to both head and body. The second round started similarly, only this time Nugent was coming out of the exchanges better and began to extend her lead, with Wilson tiring near the end of the round. The final round saw Wilson rally a little at the start but it was becoming more apparent that Nugent is a very strong girl, scoring with hooks to the head and body. The bout ended with two very tired girls who had given their all in a very entertaining bout.
Bout 2 - female senior 63kg
Natasha Jonas (Rotunda ABC, Eng) 11 v Kelly Harrington (Corinthians, Ire) 7
Another good example of the standard of female boxing, with both girls putting on a fine display of skilful boxing. Jonas boxed southpaw, taking an early lead with long jabs to the head and not allowing Harrington to settle into the bout. However, as she got a bit more confident, Harrington composed herself and scored with the jab also. The second was an even round with both girls again scoring with the jab and backhand, but with neither dominating. In the third round Jonas upped the pace and pushed forward on the attack, scoring with hard straight left hand shots. Harrington was just a little bit of the pace at the end but is a good prospect to look out for.
Bout 3 - youth 50kg
Haroon Khan (Bury ABC, Eng) 11 v Anthony O'Brien (Baldoyle, Ire) 4
From the first bell, Khan took control of this contest with a good variety of straight punches and uppercuts, forcing O'Brien back against the ropes and having to cover up. When Khan eased off , O'Brien scored with the jab, but very quickly had to cover up again. O'Brien had a better second round with Khan seemingly slowing the pace and possibly even 'switching off'. Normal service resumed in the third round though, with Khan on the attack with a good mixture of straight punches, hooks and uppercuts.
Bout 4 - youth 50kg
James Dickens (Golden Gloves ABC, Eng) 17 v Damien Costello (Ryston, Ire) 1
Next up was Jazza Dickens, fresh off his second Royal Navy Junior ABA Title win last Saturday at this same venue. As the score line suggests, this was a very one sided affair, with Dickens working out of his low handed southpaw, wide stance, scoring with long backhands and angled hooks and uppercuts. He pressed Costello, who was, and had to be, good at moving backwards and side to side, throughout the bout. Dickens scored well without trapping Costello, if he had, we may have had an early finish.
Bout 5 - youth 52kg
Paul O'Sullivan (Rotunda ABC, Eng) Won RSC 2nd v Martin Frazier (Lisburn, Ire)
Paul "Conker" O'Sullivan, the second of three Liverpool Boxers to box after securing a Royal Navy Junior ABA, came up against Martin Frazier. The bout started slow with both boxers wanting to initially box on the counter. O'Sullivan began to take the initiative and scored with right hands over the top, Frazier still opting to box off the back foot. O'Sullivan ended the round stronger but the score read 3-3. Right from the start of the second round, O'Sullivan put the pressure on and forced a standing count after a two handed attack scored cleanly. When they resumed O'Sullivan kept composed, sized Frazier up again and then set him up for a blistering two handed attack to force another count and compulsory RSC.
Bout 6 - youth 60kg
Gerard Carroll (Salisbury ABC, Eng) 11 v Fred Evans (Wales) 9
This was a close bout, with Evans boxing off the back foot and throwing long back hand counters whilst Carroll tried to apply early pressure. With the first round almost on the bell and Carroll leading 2-1, Evans scored with great long counters to even the round up. The second round was much the same, with both boxers opting for the same tactics as the first with the same result, Carroll scoring as he worked in little flurries and Evans still countering. The round ended 5-5. The third round saw the lead change hands throughout as both boxers pushed forward and mixed it with two handed exchanges. Carroll just deservedly edged it with a couple of good clean straight right hand punches. A very good bout.
Bout 7 - youth 66kg
Anthony Fowler (Golden Gloves ABC, Eng) 9 v Frans Molambo (St Brigids, Ire) 2
Fowler, the third double RNJABA champion on show tonight, was up against a strong boxer in Molambo, who is Irish Champion. Fowler started with his hands held high but soon reverted to his unorthodox style of throwing long punches with his hands down by his sides. Although a lot of the time Fowler seemed to be trying to put too much power into all of his punches, enough were landing to force Molambo back. Without ever looking really dominant, Fowler was a clear winner, restricting Molambo's success to two points due to not worrying too much about defence.
Bout 8 - youth 91kg
Karl Tierney (North Mersey ABC, Eng) 9 v Simon McDonagh (Wales) 5
Tierney, this season's NACYP Champion made a very impressive debut for his country against a very solid McDonagh. Tierny used his jab to good effect, with McDonagh trying a more powerful swinging punch to the body. For two big lads they both moved well on their feet, looking to make angles for the punches. Rounds one and two were similar, with the better boxing coming from Tierney, but not being able to make a significant progress in the scoring. The contest was even going into the last round and as McDonagh tired, Tierney at last pushed home an advantage, scoring to the body with hooks and straight shots to the head.
Bout 9 - senior 75kg
Adam McElhinney (Rotunda ABC, Eng) 6 v Luke Bunce (Wales) 20
This bout was a gruelling contest from the first bell to the last, with both lads looking to put power into almost every punch. McElhinney started well with big right hands to the head scoring, but Bunce stood up to them well. Bunce, himself a big puncher, made use of height and reach advantage, both boxers throwing punches at the same time, with Bunce's longer arms getting his shots home first. Both boxers ended the bout very tired and with bleeding noses, Bunce was a definite winner, but McElhinney deserved a higher score than six points.
Bout 10 - senior 51kg
Phillip Smith (Stockbridge ABC, Eng) 24 v Dan Chapman (Wales) 6
Smith, the twin brother of ABA finalist Anthony scored a resounding victory against a very experienced opponent in Chapman. The first round started very fast with lots of movement and plenty of short two handed exchanges with neither boxer really coming out on top. The second round saw Smith working off the jab more and gaining more success and a lead of a couple of points, although Chapman's movement was still good. The third round seen a real change to the contest as Chapman, who was now starting to slow got caught with a big straight right hand to the head. He took a count and was then back peddling for the rest of the round. They started the fourth round with Smith leading 16-5.
To his credit, Chapman pushed forward to try to reduce the deficit and although Smith had been told to box and not mix it, both boxers stood their ground and punched away two handed. Smith caught Chapman with another big right hand, bringing another eight count. After this Chapman called upon his energy reserves to revert to back foot movement up to the end.
Bout 11 - senior 54kg
John Gilbert (St Aloysius ABC, Eng) 4 v Andrew Selby (Wales) 20
Although Gilbert was giving away a lot of experience to the seasoned Selby, he had boxed in this class before, being beaten in this year's Senior ABA Championships only on count back to Paul Edwards (Salisbury ABC). The bout started with Gilbert pushing forward trying to score with the jab and lead back hand to a very elusive Selby, who took a look at his opponent and looked to counter. Round two saw Selby attack the body whilst Gilbert at times was chasing shadows from the very quick-footed Selby.
By the third round Selby was in control although he had not hurt Gilbert but his fast in and out tactics were very effective. The outcome was never in doubt but Gilbert gave it his all, never giving up trying to catch up with Selby, who stuck with a quick one two and back out tactics. A very good bout to watch.
Bout 12 - senior 64kg
Craig Callaghan (Sefton ABC, Eng) won RSC 1st v Ryan Griffiths (Wales)
Callaghan, making his third appearance for England, was team captain, and made a fine job of it. He started fast, working behind a long jab then whipping in the back hand to take an early lead. Griffiths pushed forward to try to close the gap and another Callaghan back hand landed clean just on the underside of Griffiths' chin, opening up a cut about an inch long. The referee led Griffiths to the doctor, but his mind was already made up and he stopped the bout in favour of Callaghan.
Final results are as follows:
Schoolboys
England 8 Ireland 6
Female and youth boxers
England 5 Ireland 1
1 bout cancelled due to Irish boxer failing the pre-bout medical
Youth and senior boxers
England 4 Wales 2
Referees and judges from the three competing nations carried out their duties competently and fairly. As always there will be differing opinions on some score lines, but in all bouts it seemed to me that the correct choice of winner was made.
A very successful day of boxing and a great success for the recognition squad selection process.
John Hallam
Team manager