Islington’s Brown seals national title hat-trick

Islington's Mason Smith and Amy Broadhurst lost at the national finals (pic Reggie Hagland) (Image: Archant)

Cherrelle Brown was crowned National Elite England Boxing champion at under-64kg for the third year in a row at the weekend.

Light-welterweight Brown had lifted the title in 2015 and 2016 and won both of her bouts at the Magna Centre in Rotherham to make it a hat-trick.

Seeded number one by GB Boxing, Brown received a bye to the semi finals, where she faced opponent Megan Reid (Army), who had boxed on Friday and defeated Xian Blackman-Price (Gym 01).

Brown showed signs of ring rust in the encounter with the strong Army boxer, as she struggled with her timings for the first two rounds and was just edging the bout.

Islington BC's Amy Pu and Mo Gharib with John Richards (pic Reggie Hagland) (Image: Archant)

But a better last round secured a split decision victory for Brown, who then faced Paige Murney of Leicester Unity in the final.

Murney came out fast at the start of the opening round to try and disrupt Brown, but the Islington boxer did her best to get into her stride quickly and towards the end of a tight first round she had started to achieve this.

In the second round Brown put her punches together much better and caught Murney a few times with uppercuts and hooks at short range, while at long range her backhand punches were also scoring.

The final round was much the same, as Murney came out quick knowing she needed the round to claim victory, but it was the arm of Brown that was lifted in victory.

There was disappointment for Islington’s Mason Smith who was defeated in the under-60kg semi-finals by eventual champion Thomas Hodgson (Birtley ABC) in what was possibly the bout of the weekend.

It was a very close, toe-to-toe encounter between the lightweight duo, with both having their share of success before Hodgson won on a split decision.

Smith, who was named the number one seed by GB Boxing, had defeated National Development champion Joshua Padley (Doncaster BA) on a split decision in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Islington’s Amy Broadhurst entered the Elite Championship for the first time and reached the semi-finals after defeating Hannah Robinson (Bishop Auckland), the current England Boxing title-holder on a split decision on Friday.

But the next day saw Broadhurst lose a split decision against the now two-time National Elite finalist Louise Orton (St Mary’s).

n Islington Boxing Club took two boxers to Torquay for the Torbay ABC show at Acorn Youth Centre, with both claiming wins.

Mo Gharib (61kg) was eager to continue his good form with Islington up against England representative Jacob Croot (Downend ABC).

And despite an accidental clash of heads early in the first round, which left Gharib with a cut eyebrow, the north Londoner picked up a deserved victory via split decision as he soldiered on from the minor setback to score to head and body with his fleet-footed movement.

There was also a long overdue victory for Amy Pu (60kg), one of the club’s most dedicated boxers who has had her share of bad luck in previous contests.

Pu, who often volunteers her time at various club shows as an England Boxing judge, was up against home boxer Heidi Prowse (Torbay ABC) and knew going into the contest it wasn’t going to be easy gaining victory.

But she got her shots in the quickest throughout the contest, despite the constant forward pressure of Prowse, and in her 10th amateur contest for the club, claimed only her second win on a split decision, with the last triumph being in December 2015.