Islington BC light-welterweight Mason Smith will keep his England Boxing elite belt after making a third successful title defence on the club’s dinner show.

Smith held off the challenge of former England Boxing champion Jacob Gabriel (Basingstoke ABC) at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, on a unanimous decision to retain his Southern Area title.

The win means Smith becomes the first boxer in the country to keep an elite title belt and rounded off a successful show for the Hazellville Road club, attended by over 500 supporters.

In the only junior bout of the night, debutant Freddie Kinsella – who recently joined Islington from Times ABC – was edged out on a split decision by London development finalist Meiwand Saleh (All Stars ABC).

Predictably, there was a split decision victory for Islington’s Borys Feldman – his ninth in 12 contests – as he overcame Anton Baldock (St Osyth’s ABC) and also collected the award for best home boxer of the night.

Welterweight Yaser Al-Ghena made a winning start to his Islington career, producing good combinations to clinch a split decision against the tough Sergio Gugliotta (Royal Air Force).

Home boxer Troy Smart was hindered by a hand injury and never really got going in his 56kg contest as he lost a unanimous decision against Army opponent Shamim Khan.

Another Islington new boy, lightweight Mo Ghraib – who recently made the switch from Finchley ABC – took revenge for his previous defeat to Mark Butler (Hillcrest ABC) with a comfortable victory.

Islington’s Cherrelle Brown was up against a familiar face in Army boxer Alanna Murphy, repeating her England Boxing elite light-welterweight title victory of a year ago to take a unanimous decision.

Former national novices finalist Darren Ballinger – back at Islington after a four-year absence – looked understandably ring rusty and, despite raising his game, lost a split decision to Will Nimako (Basingstoke ABC).

Islington’s Jerome Campbell returned to the ring just five days after his defeat in the England Boxing development championship final and took a unanimous decision against Eden Maitland (Hillcrest ABC).

Lamin Conteh rounded off the show with another Islington win, securing a split decision against the taller Sean Eng (Army).