Academy's Boxing evening at Stopsley WMC is a knockout

The Academy Amateur Boxing Club hosted a sensational night of action at Stopsley Working Man's Club last Saturday.

Joining the Academy’s talented youngsters were fighters from Small Holdings (London), Rangers (Leighton Buzzard), Horseshoe (Swindon), Tree Estate (Kent) as well as other amateur clubs from Stevenage, Sandy and Hemel Hempstead.

Luton was also represented by Strike 06 ABC.

The Academy’s John Ash got proceedings started with a skills bout (no scoring) against John Stow of Horseshoe ABC.

Ash showed how he is one for the future, with an ability to switch between being a pressure fighter and a boxer who can pick out shots on the back foot.

Having won the National Alliance Championships in recent week, Academy’s Tony Price was unable to capitalise as he lost a close fight to Josh Chambers of Tree Estate ABC.

After being edged out in the first, Price jump straight out of the blocks and took control in the second and Chambers had to hold several times to hold back the onslaught.

The third was a close affair as both traded punches, with Chambers edging it, just, to take the win.

Kaine Finnerty (Academy) and Kevin Moldovan (Finchley) put on a pick em fight that caught fire, right from the first bell.

Finnerty’s ability to use his jab and land big rights over the top put Moldovan on the back foot in the first.

He responded in kind in the second and both go toe to toe in the third with Finnerty’s aggression impressing the judges as they award him a split decision.

Next up was his stablemate Dillon Knowles, who impressed with a controlled and dominant display against Tree Estate’s Toby Hergest.

Having rocked his opponent several times, Knowles piled on the pressure throughout and took the decision unanimously on the cards.

Fresh from his recent success in the National Championships, the Academy’s Frankie Storey did not have it all his own way as he battled against Lee Stevenson of Rangers ABC.

Storey struggled to take control, where his opponent tried to thwart his attacks by holding. In the second Storey went up through the gears, landing big lefts on Stevenson who was now bleeding from the face.

The third saw Stevenson struggle to hold on as the Storey onslaught continued and his efforts were rewarded with a unanimous decision.

An all-Luton clash followed between Neo Grant (Academy) and Chowdhury Ahmed (Strike 06).

Grant started to land cleanly, forcing Ahmed back and his opponent mad no mistake as a final combination sealed a win on all three judges’ cards.

The final fight of the night saw the Academy’s Jem Campbell face off with Zoe Hunter Smith of Small Holdings ABC.

Campbell not only took the decision, but her performance also earned her the crown of fighter of the night.

The Academy’s next show is back in Stopsley on May 13.