Title still on for lethal Lee (From Gazette Series)

Title still on for lethal Lee

SYNWELL Amateur Boxing Club's Greg Lee took another step towards his ambition of winning the National ABA Heavyweight Championship with a victory by knockout over Cleeve ABC's Steven Campbell at a packed Lister Hall, Dursley, on Saturday.

The 30-year-old outclassed his opponent and just 90 seconds into the contest a series of straight punches saw Campbell knocked out.

In the evening's two other regional qualifiers for the National ABA Championships, Dave Stewart (Broad Plain ABC) beat clubmate John Jameson on a points decision in their lightweight bout, while, at welterweight, Jason Gardiner (Broad Plain) won on points over Jason Hicks (Yeovil ABC).

Middleweight Chris Woods (Malmesbury ABC) and light heavyweight Ricky Boardman (Broad Plain) had walkovers after their opponents withdrew.

The packed crowd gave their support to all the boxers right from the opening bout, the evening starting with Synwell boxers taking on opponents from throughout the South West.

The first bout was a schoolboy contest with Synwell's 11-year-old Billy Aldridge matched against Paignton ABC's Lee Barnwood. Aldridge, in only his second contest, took the fight directly to his opponent, forcing him to box defensively and gave no opportunity for the initiative to be reversed. A continual barrage of punches saw the Synwell boxer take a points win.

Next in the ring was 11-year-old Jake Heal of Synwell. His opponent was Chris Wills from Watchet ABC. Heal took control of the contest from the first bell, outboxing his opponent throughout and earning a unanimous points victory.

Thirteen-year-old Mitchel Lever of Synwell was matched against Jason Cook of Gloucester ABC. As the first round began, the stocky Gloucester fighter took the contest to Lever, who, in his upright, controlled stance, beat his more erratic opponent with a variation of punches to head and body. The Synwell boxer was in control throughout the three rounds and took another unanimous points victory.

Another Synwell 13-year-old, Jimmy Tyrer, also enjoyed a unanimous points win, this time over Sturminster Newton ABC's Patrick Nurden.

One of the fights of the evening saw Synwell's 16-year-old Lee Heal take on Liam Stevens of Malmesbury ABC. The tall away fighter dominated the opening two rounds and built up a massive lead. However, the third round was completely different and Heal's direct style twice forced the referee to give Stevens a standing eight count. In the end though, Heal's slow start cost him and Stevens won on points.

Watchet ABC's James McDonagh then had a points win over Sean Compton of Sturminster Newton ABC.

The final club fight saw Synwell's Jimmy Stanulewicz up against Ricky Boardman of Broad Plain ABC.

The 23-year-old home boxer received tremendous backing from the crowd but Boardman, who has several national titles to his name, won by knockout with a superb right to the head near the end of round two.