Chichester teenage boxer shows long break has done no harm

St Gerards ABC travelled to Sarisbury Green with 16-year-old Mitchell Coward for the Titchfield ABC's open class boxing show.

He was facing an opponent from Gosport - experienced young D Martin, who weighed 68.3kg with Coward 67kg.

Coward hadn’t boxed in nearly a year-and-a-half because of injuries and exams.

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Ash Sutherland, St Gerards’ sports science coach, has been working personally with Coward in all aspects of the sport, including nutrition and strength and conditioning.

He was in tip-top condition but ring rusty.

Coward is a special boxer and his coaches felt he would cope by boxing to plan.

The contest was over three two-minute rounds and Coward started well behind a fast accurate jab that kept his foraging opponent at bay and clearly won him the first round.

Martin was pushing forward trying to dominate on the ropes but Mitchell stung him with his jab and worked him to the body as well with stunning bombs. He clearly won the second round.

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In the last, Mitchell stuck to his boxing and outgunned Martin with his superior skills and won by a unanimous points decision.

Coaches Jon Mills and Sutherland said it was a fantastic performance from Coward considering his long absence from the ring.

Mum and dad Marie and Tony Coward, who support their son’s endeavours, are well-known Chichester fruit and veg market traders and Mitchell works for the family business at weekends.

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