Brighton trip is learning curve for young Chichester boxers

St Gerards Boxing Club members travelled to the Brighton & Hove club's for a day of competitive sparring and competition, fielding four boxers who ranged from schools to youth boxers.
St Gerards' Holly Heffron, far right, with some of her sparring partners at BrightonSt Gerards' Holly Heffron, far right, with some of her sparring partners at Brighton
St Gerards' Holly Heffron, far right, with some of her sparring partners at Brighton

Competing at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, they began with 14-year-old Holly ‘The Hurricane’ Heffron taking part in competitive sparring with four of the host club’s female boxers aged 12 to 19.

St Gerards coach Jon Mills said: “Holly was class as usual, changing and adapting to suit each of the girls in the ring with her, switching from orthodox to southpaw at ease, calmly stalling their winds.

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“Her cardio was immense and had to be over 12 rounds. She proved that fitness goes hand in hand with talent – she will have learned so much.”

Daniel Blunden, aged ten, was having his third skills contest at 27kg against Ryan Gibbs, also ten, from the Tadley & District club.

It was a cracking display of technical boxing over three one-minute rounds from natural southpaw Blunden. It was a real pleasure to watch the pair in action.

St Gerards’ Freddie Hayes, 15 and weighing 56kg, faced Danny Ross-Horton, also 15 but weighing 58kg from the host club over three two-minute rounds.

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The first round seemed to see Hayes get the upper hand, finishing with a flourish.

Coach Mills said: “We told Freddie to up the ante and start using more combination shots as Danny appeared to be tiring in the last round. Freddie did just that catching Danny with some cracking rear hand shots, switching from head to body at ease.

“Freddie grew in confidence with some very powerful shots,forcing the referee to give Danny a standing eight count.

“In the last round we told Freddie to up the pace and push forward, forcing Danny on to the ropes and he began picking his punches at ease. Freddie was judged a unanimous points winner.”

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St Gerards’ Joe Grimsey, aged 16 and weighing 74kg, faced the host club’s Sam Boore, also 16 but weighing 73kg, over three two-minute rounds. Grimsey was caught with a big right hand on the ropes and the referee gave him a standing eight count,which his camp felt was unfounded.

Mills said: “We told Joe he had to be far busier and he was in the second, trying in vain to catch up. In the third round Joe pushed all the buttons and boxed out of his skin, pushing Sam all the way.”

Boore won the contest on a well-deserved points decision but Mills said: “Joe was vastly improved from his first contest and will move on to better things. He has a solid chin and the true heart of a champion.”

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