Crossgar Fight Night

Crossgar Fight Night

7 March 2012

BOXING returned to the War Memorial Hall in Crossgar for the first time in 27 years when the locally-based EAST Down ABC held their first show of the year with a 12-fight promotion on Friday night.

First up for the host club at 29kg was nine year-old Oisin Mulholland against Lisburn’s Mark Mason.

Oisin, who has a boxing brain that belies his age, picked his punches to take the first two rounds before upping the pace to seal victory with a clear points win.

Next up was Tommy McConville at 46kg against Ryan Todd from Castlereagh ABC. Tommy was having only his second contest since joining the club four months ago, but he has a great future ahead of him.

He edged the final two rounds, but Todd, knowing he was behind, took the fight to the local lad and McConville had to rely on his extra will power to secure victory.

Another Mulholland to step through the ropes was Oisin’s older brother, Eoin, and he faced Midlands ABC’s Josh Wallace in the 12 year-old 39kg class.

After an evenly matched first round, Eoin, a classy counter puncher, started to make Wallace miss before making him pay for his mistakes with some eye-catching combinations.

Eoin, who must be the club’s improved boxer this year, gave the Belfast lad a standing count in the last round to seal a fine points victory.

East Down ABC’s James Gibson and Reece Hanna took part in an exhibition bout in what was meant to be a friendly affair.

Both boxers traded heavy blows from start to finish and certainly gave the crowd their money’s worth. Club coaches hope to have both lads out again shortly.

After the interval Down and Armagh champion Deano Kayes boxed Midlands Jake Wallace in the 12 year-old 39kg class.

Deano used his greater selection of punches to put his opponent on to the back foot from the first bell. Wallace, to his credit, tried to fight back, but was forced to take a standing count at the end of the first round.

The second round started with more of the same with Deano finding his range before forcing the referee to step in and stop the contest.

Next up for the host club was Nine Counties champion Ross Moore in the youth 52kg class. Ross was up against Steven Burke from Pegasus ABC in Downpatrick.

Both boxers traded blows in a thrilling contest that went the distance. Moore’s sharper, more eye-catching punches seemed to shade the contest and he was given an 8-3 verdict.

Mark McMahon brought the curtain down on the night when he took on Sean McAvoy from the All Blacks Club at 70kg. In a hard to score bout, McAvoy’s greater work rate in the later stages gave him the nod in a rugged encounter. Mark will learn from this and come back all the stronger for it.

Training continues for East Down boxers at 6.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays.