Jeff Ofori emerged as Islington BC’s sole survivor in the senior ABA novice championships after winning his first London title on points.

The ever-improving Ofori overwhelmed opponent J Suares (Fitzroy Lodge) in Sunday’s Class A Under-63.5kg final, giving him a standing eight count in both the second and third rounds.

Ofori triumphed by unanimous decision – but he was the only winner among the eight-strong Islington contingent in the London finals, held at the TA Centre, Grove Park.

However, Sherif Musah, who lost the Class A Under-86kg final on a majority points verdict could yet be reinstated after a formal complaint was issued to the London ABA about the eligibility of his opponent, E Simukonis (TA Army).

Whatever the outcome, there will be no reprieve for the other Islington finalists, most of whom were beaten by unanimous decision.

Scott Smart never really found his rhythm against C Marsden (Earlsfield) – who held an imposing height advantage of seven inches – in the Class A Under-51kg final.

It was a similar story for Troy Smart, who was also up against a taller opponent (East London Boxing Academy’s A Khan) in the Under-54kg final and was repeatedly picked off by fast jabs, left and rights.

But Dujon Semper-Hughes, who used his long-range shots to good effect and upset the rhythm of opponent J Taylor (Fisher), was unlucky to lose the Class B Under-60kg final.

Enrico Mullings was well beaten in the Class B under-71kg final, where he failed to match the work-rate of opponent J Bellamy (Fitzroy Lodge) over the four rounds.

However, Islington’s senior club captain Jermaine Kelly put up a gutsy display in the Class B Under-86kg final, matching A Yarde (Omnibus) blow for blow, only to be eliminated by a bleeding nose that prompted the referee to stop the contest on the ringside doctor’s advice.

The eighth Islington representative, Jordan Joseph, was defeated on a unanimous decision by C Richards (Palmers BA) in the Class A Under-81kg semi-final on Saturday.

Islington boxer Patrick McCarthy overcame the host club’s Kurtis Preedy in a contest that won the ‘fight of the night’ award at Hayes ABC’s open show.

McCarthy forced a standing eight count in the second round and superior strength and fitness saw him to victory as the pair went toe-to-toe in the closing stages.

On the same show, Islington’s Neh Thomas recovered from a slow start, picking off opponent Saud Mohammed (Northolt) with clean jabs to win a majority points decision.

Islington’s Jack Sinnott lost out on a majority decision to his more experienced opponent, home boxer Kerim Agius, on the Dagenham ABC show.