Islington Boxing Club held their final show of the season at White Hart Lane Boxing Academy, with some success over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The Hazelville Road club has had 76 boxers, out of 114 carded members, fight at least once in over 200 total contests during the season, and featured 18 bouts in their last event.
The first seven contests were skills bouts between Martin Casey (White Hart Lane) and Reis Wilson (Lansbury), as Islington’s Bek Ikromkhonov and Isaac Gibson took on Callum Cook (Belvedere) and Alfie Moore (Lansbury).
Cianan Campbell met Elliott Cameron (Norwich City), as Alfie Suksiri faced Harvey James Northard (Crowle) and Rishon John took on Patrick O’Donnell (Hooks). White Hart Lane’s Teghaty Minambele met Massie Callaghan (Lansbury) in the other skills contest.
The first competitive contest of the day saw William Nantu lose split decision to Joel Pownceby (Berinsfield) at 50kg, after a slow start but strong finish.
Talia Rumbol (Riverside) made her debut and won a split decision against Scunthorpe boxer Lousia Hunter (Crowle) in a minors contest at 30kg, before Islington junior captain Harry Betteridge lost a unanimous decision at 45kg to Hadley Neller (Norwich City), whose better work rate was enough for the verdict.
Cherise Barone lost a unanimous decision against Kamile Poskauskyte (Harrow) at 58kg, after a scrappy contest, but Islington had their first win when Ruhel ‘Bob’ Miah beat Josh Cameron (Norwich City) on unanimous points at 57kg.
Miah began well, landing heavy shots to his opponent’s head which led to a standing eight count. And although Cameron saw the contest through, Miah was a clear winner and took the best home boxer award.
However, he also picked up an injury which has forced him out of both the Hull and Haringey Box Cups in June.
Repton’s Damarie Campbell was stopped by Hillingdon’s Jack Galland-O’Reily in their senior light- heavyweight contest, after taking two standing eight counts in the first round and going down heavy in the second.
Islington’s Eli Musah then beat Remy Mukudi (Uxbridge) in his best performance to date, as the 18-year-old showed good stamina and used his reach and jab well to win on unanimous points.
Despite a shaky start, Ahmed Rabnawaz won a unanimous decision against David Moran (Hillingdon) in a 67kg senior development contest.
Moran came out strong in the first round, stunning the home boxer before the last bell sounded, but Rabnawaz upped his game and boxed better in the second and third rounds to add another victory to his tally.
The contest of the day saw Repton’s Raymond Bear win a split decision against Kaine Brannan (Riverside).
Both boxers who were making their debuts and showed great heart in a fantastic spectacle for the neutrals which was worth the entry fee alone.
Islington’s Kevin Agbodzah made it four winns in four as he defeated the more experienced Colin Hallett (Double Jab) on a unanimous decision, relying on boxing on the back foot and using the ropes to spin off against the South London boxer.
The last contest of the day saw Troy Smart make a welcome return to the ring after just over a year out, but he suffered a ninth straight loss against Samuel Alphonso (White Hart Lane).
The Islington boxer made a slow start, but produced a better second round and strong finish, only for Alphonso to be named as the winner by virtue of a split decision.
Islington manager Reggie Hagland said: “I would like to thank Chris Hall of White Hart Lane who allowed us to use his gym for the show. It was the first time we used this venue, which is outside of our normal area for an open show since the loss of Boston Dome earlier this year.
“Chris was very accommodating and supportive of the club and without him we wouldn’t have been able to get valuable experience for the boxers that competed.
“It was a good way to finish off the club show season for Islington. Only the Hull, Bristol and Haringey Box Cup tournaments are left and then a short break during the summer months as we shut on Fridays for competitive squad sessions from late June until September.
“But we do plan on holding another four or five shows next season to keep our ever-growing number of carded boxers busy and active.”
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