Islington’s Ewan Jenkins booked a place in the semi-finals of the National Association of Boys’ & Girls’ Club Championships after beating defending champion Sam Noakes (Westree ABC) on Sunday.
But the win did not come in the way that Jenkins or his club wanted, after Noakes was disqualified for an illegal punch.
Jenkins was landing cleaner shots, making it very difficult for his opponent to score as he moved in and out quickly and causing Noakes to make mistakes in the opening round.
Noakes had been given a soft caution by the referee in the second round for use of the head, but when the boxers were called to break, Jenkins was hit on the back of the head after the break with an illegal punch.
The Islington boxer fell to the canvas and the referee decided to disqualify Noakes, but Jenkins has been cleared to box in the semi-finals against Connor Gray (Emeralds ABC) at Farnham this Sunday.
Jenkins reached this stage of the championships last season and will want to go one step further.
Youth boxer Matin Camara, 16, lost a unanimous decision against Tommy Gormley, from host club High Wycombe ABC.
Gormley came out for the 64kg clash with a low stance, bobbing and weaving, rushing Camara at every opportunity and landing his hooks under and around the Islington boxer’s long reach.
Camara did connect with his own shots but not frequently enough and gave up the centre of the ring in rounds one and two.
With only 40 seconds remaining into the third round Camara was catching Gormley, who felt the pace of the fight, but the Islington boxer suffered his first defeat in his fourth contest.
Juniors Bek Ikromkhonov (37kg) and Isaac Gibson (32kg) were both defeated on the White Hart Lane Open Show.
Ikromkhonov came up against the very strong Blue Robinson (Hoddesdon BA), who was eager to impress on his competitive debut and overwhelmed the Islington youngster, who was given a standing eight count in the second round before his corner retired him.
Gibson was involved in the best contest of the day against Francie O’Donnell from the host club, and looked to win the first and last rounds, only to come out on the wrong end of a split decision.
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