Success at home and abroad for Repton boxers

There was international success at home and abroad for Repton boxers this week.

With Martin Ward reaching the quarter-finals of the European Amateur Championships in Ankara, Turkey on Monday while a day earlier, Michael McCarthy and Simon Lewis recorded a golden double in the Haringey Box-Cup tournament at Alexandra Palace.

Lightweight Ward, hailed a bright hope for the 2012 London Olympics, showed his potential when he reached the last eight with a convincing win against Russia’s highly rated Ildar Vaganov.

The Bethnal Green club boxer’s classy skills dominated the clash as he recorded a 16-10 win against his stubborn opponent.

Ward had opened his campaign in Turkey with a good win over Tomasz Vano of Slovakia.

On Sunday at Alexandra Palace his Repton club-mates McCarthy and Lewis triumphed at the massive 213-bout tournament hailed as Europe’s biggest club competition.

Lightweight McCarthy came through three contests for his win while light-heavyweight Lewis slammed his way to success in a straight final.

Tottenham’s Karl Barnes was the opening rival for McCarthy but could not match the skills of the Repton boxer as he piled up the points on his way to a unanimous decision.

Niklas Helgesson (Stockholm City), one of the many European club entries at the event, failed to halt McCarthy’s progress through the semi-final with all the ringside judges voting for the Repton hope.

McCarthy left no doubt about his right to the title as he dominated the exchanges against Sean Greenfield from Leamington’s Cleary’s BC, who was under pressure in every round as the east Londoner completed his golden success.

The powerful attacks of Lewis proved too much for Cambridge rival Wesley Clarke, who was outgunned as the Repton boxer triggered the heavy hooks that saw him capture the 81kg title.

There was an early exit for Repton’s stylish Marlon Mellish when he was outpointed by tough Sam Bowen (Earl of Shilton) who went on to win the senior C 64kg class.

East London reputation-wrecker Mickey Coveney once again upset the odds at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday night when he outpointed unbeaten Alex Dilmaghani, from Worthing.

The hot favourite from Sussex was taken out of his stride by Coveney, who has now upset two of his last four rivals – Dilmaghani and Newcastle’s Martin Ward – both previously undefeated.

The local crowd pleaser worked hard from the opening bell, scoring at close-quarters against the much-taller Dilmaghani who failed to keep the bout at long range.

Coveney maintained the pressure, slamming home effective shots to head and body against his southpaw rival and was certainly not flattered by the single point margin in his favour with a score of 39-38.

It was also a winning night for ex-Repton boxer Joe Catchpole as he earned a victory over Scunthorpe rival Steve Spence, who ended his three-fight winning run when they fought a draw at Rotherham last November.

Spence made a determined first-round assault in an attempt to take Catchpole out of his stride, but soon fell behind as his rival found the target with his accurate jabs.

Catchpole turned on the style, shaking Spence with effective attacks to extend his lead going into the last round and rounded off his victory, firing shots through the defences of his tiring rival to clinch a 40-37 win.

Top-of-the-bill action saw Choi Tseveenpurev outpoint Jackson Asiku in a real thriller, while in a British Masters junior welterweight title clash, Southern Area champion Darren Hamilton was disqualified for a first-round headbutt in his bout against Dave Ryan.