BOXING fans who packed the Braza on Friday were treated to a thrilling 14-bout show as Fenland’s finest took to the ring.

March Amateur Boxing Club’s sold-out event was explosive from start to finish with the area’s up-and-coming stars displaying their considerable talent. It was a night of full-blooded action and impressive performances from March’s boxers, many of whom picked up convincing victories.

But it was Chatteris ABC’s national champion Jordan Gill that really stole the show with an assured display. The Clubs for Young People (CYP) British Champion looked a class above most of the night’s competitors with an effortless victory over Capitol’s Kester Paris-Jones.

Paris-Jones, from Coventry, was out-boxed, out-manouvered and out-fought by Gill, who even found time to collect a black eye of his own on his way to a unanimous victory.

A raucous crowd showed their appreciation of both boxers’ efforts less than an hour after they had cheered the imposing Vicky Larham to victory in her first bout on home soil.

Larham, March ABC’s first ever female boxer, destroyed Dereham’s Laura Knight, forcing an eight-count in the second round. If Larham had any nerves, she didn’t show them. Knight looked like she didn’t know what had hit her and did well to make it through the bout.

Larham’s unanimous victory raised the roof as her reputation – and fanbase – continues to grow. March ABC coach Bernie Wing admitted her second victory – maintaining her 100 per cent record since taking to the ring – satisfied an expectant crowd.

Wing said: “It was nice for Vicky that the crowd showed their support and her bout was so one-sided.

“She was so nervous as all of her friends were there to watch but she didn’t disappoint. It’s really good for the club that we continue to get such great support. The Braza’s a cracking venue and there’s always a good atmosphere here.

“The March boxers all supported each other throughout the night which is nice to see. It’s always been the same and I think it always will be. It really was a great night full of cracking boxing.”

Cole Stevens – crowned March ABC boxer of the night – opened the show with a fine display against Chadwell St Mary’s George Hart earning a victory by unanimous decision.

He was followed by March’s Harry Rody who exploded out of the corner in the opening round to corner Chalvedon’s Nathan Lucas, who never really recovered. Rody’s aggressive approach earned him a thoroughly-deserved victory by unanimous decision.

There were also wins for Perce Baxter (majority decision) and Mark Crosby, (unanimous decision) who battered Tom Cox leaving Wing to admit the Capitol boxer “did well to make it through the three rounds”.

March’s Danny Hedges and Capitol’s David Seymour slugged it out toe-to-toe for four rounds in many people’s best bout of the night.

Seymour picked off Hedges intelligently with a more considered approach which earned him a unanimous victory. Wing insisted the defeat will have done Hedges no harm at all.

The March ABC coach said: “Danny could have done better, his art is making the other boxer work, and he didn’t really do that.

“It was a good bout though as Seymour boxed intelligently and you don’t see too many two-minute rounds of four. We knew Seymour was a good boxer and Danny has beaten boxers as good as him before but it’s all a learning curve.

“It was the ideal preparation for Danny’s ABA quarter-final on Saturday and he’ll learn from this defeat.”

There were also defeats for Ambrose Draper, who lost to Far Cotton’s Drew Brown by majority decision, and Conor Crosby who was beaten by Kingfisher’s Henri Potter by unanimous decision.

After witnessing blood, sweat and 13-bouts of boxing brilliance, the crowd even enjoyed a knockdown and stoppage in the night’s final match as Chalvedon’s Lee Martin disposed of Bedford’s Alan Lever in the first round.

It was a thrilling end to a thrilling night.

Other results

Louis Booth (Doncaster Plant Works ABC) beat Jack Hall (Haddenham) by majority decision.

Kyle Fox (Doncaster Plant Works ABC) beat Charlie Roche (Essex Uni) by majority decision.

Matt Tumber (Haddenham) beat Dean Saunders (Bletchley) by majority decision

Bobby Jenkinson (Bracebridge) beat Yasser Nasser (Donnington) by majority decision