Branch shines on England duty

Tommy Green celebrates his win on the latest Broad Street show (Image: Archant)

Repton heavyweight James Branch answered his England call in style with a fine win in Denmark.

The 19-year-old Branch gave a convincing display against Danish national champion Jim Andreasen in an 8-2 team win - and admitted he it was an ‘easier than expected’ victory.

Andreasen, 21, has his sights on the 2016 Olympics and scored two good wins in the World Championships in Kazakhstan last year before being eliminated by Italian winner Clemente Russo.

But he was handled confidently by Branch at the first amateur tournament in Denmark in 30 years to include boxers without headguards as the Repton teenager piled up the points at long range, landing effective punches and moved inside to slam home solid hooks.

With a partisan 800-strong crowd roaring support, the home boxer tried to turn the bout his way, but the east Londoner – who battled through tough contests to reach the ABA elite finals earlier in the year – stayed on top for a good win in an impressive opening to the new campaign.

n Repton hopefuls were in winning form at the East Ham WMC show on Friday, where National Schools champion Henry Turner impressed.

Turner repeated an earlier success over Southend rival Albie Scopes, dominating every round as he landed the more accurate shots to take the verdict.

Barney Docherty made it five straight wins in club colours as he outboxed Southampton’s Matt Turner and unbeaten Max Bowyer proved too good for Jamie Crabb (Southampton), as Charlie Watford outscored Luton’s Matt Grant.

New boy Joseph King outpointed Hari Ali (East London Academy), but Levi Deighton lost a tight verdict to Steve Brooks (Southend).

Others: Tommy Smith lost pts Neil Duffy (Luton); John Hedges lost pts Mike Durning (Cambridge); Jim Haricourt lost pts Tom O’Donnell (Luton); Pat Connor lost pts Des McDonagh (St Pancras).

n Tommy Green and Terry Conroy came out on top of clashes between East London club rivals on the Broad Street show at the Troxy.

Green came won a hard-hitting encounter with Repton’s Lewis Payne as he stepped up the pressure after an even start.

The pair swapped solid punches, but the Broad Street boxer landed solid rights to take the verdict and ‘best home boxer’ award.

Broad Street’s Frankie Edwards made a good start against former National Schools finalist Terry Conroy, but Conroy came back strongly as Edwards slowed and the Lanbsury boxer took the judges vote and ‘best visiting boxer’ award.

London Novices winner Oghor Obakponovwe showed his heavyweight power as he cut down taller Emafly Adebayo (Finchley) with heavy hooks in a good win.

The popular Egis Zukas repeated an earlier win in a hard-hitting contest with Barking’s Blerin Pjetri, taking a points decision and Ray Miah whipped home solid shots to slow Sam Forkner (Berry Boys) before a third round stoppage.

Haris Najeeb (Fight for Peace) and Yusuf Thamim (Broad Street) produced a close bout, with Najeeb getting a split vote, and Alvi Qays had to work for his win over Wesley Gray (Chadwell St Mary), while Shae Tepea (Double Jab) was a second-round winner over Harry Johnson (Broad Street).

n TKO gym’s Marianne Marston clearly outpointed Hungarian Marinna Gulyas to clinch the MBC International super-bantamweight title at York Hall on Saturday.

New cruiserweight Jerome Haywood outpointed Lithuanian Rolandas Cesna, while Nathan Decastro was a 40-37 winner over tough Lithuanian Deividas Sajauka.

Former amateur star Antonio Counihan stopped Janos Vass in three rounds and Mark Alexander was another three-round winner against Tadas Stulginskas

East London-based Turk Siar Ozgul won a thriller against Nottingham’s Matt Scriven 39-37 and brother Onder was a 40-36 winner over Remigigijus Ziausys.