Image Credit: Lucy Henry

High tensions arose as The University of Portsmouth Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) took on the Metropolitan Police Amateur Boxing Club and other contenders from across the area,spanning 14 bouts throughout the night of 17th April in Lux.

UoP Dance Club - Image Credit: Luke Simmonds

Before the boxing commenced, UoP Dance Club entertained the crowd with a police-themed performance in the ring, which prepared the atmosphere for an eventful evening.

The first bout featured UoP ABC’s James ‘The Baby Bomber’ Connor pitted against J Kemkaren from the Met Police.

A beautiful display of boxing by Connor earned him a unanimous victory and also the best boxer of the night overall, chosen by the referees and judges.

A packed crowd then enjoyed the second bout of the evening in which Paul ‘Kappa’ Kapnesi took on C Jarvis from Eastleigh. Paul used precise punches to gain a deserved points victory against a tall durable opponent.

James Connor left his mark of his opponent Image Credit Lucy Henry

The first and only female bout of the evening followed shortly after, with Hannah Harding taking on Helen Hughes from the Met Police.

This was Hannah’s first competitive bout, but wasn’t showing it with an enthusiastic effort until her eventual defeat.

Hughes used her greater experience and fitness to push forward and edge the win. Head Coach Wayne Gardiner said: “Hannah gave everything and was winning the bout up to the last round where fitness took its toll, a very good debut bout.”

Gardiner commented that “Darragh performed fantastically in his first ever bout against a boy who has had nine contests; the scores were extremely close and I was very impressed by his performance.

He may have lost the bout but proved that he will be a force in the future.”

The next bout saw lightweight competitors pitted against each other, with Matt ‘The Whirlwind’ Wilcock taking on L Freeman from Bournemouth.

Matt Wilcock holds his winners trophy with pride Image Credit: Luke Simmonds

Matt boxed with brains instead of brawn, using his long reach to score significant points scoring blows, making him a unanimous victor.

Matt was thrilled with his victory, holding his winners trophy with pride on the way back to the dressing room.

Next up was James ‘Boom Boom’ Bossom against A Todd from the Met Police. James worked extremely hard against a taller and more experienced boxer, forcing the pace to grind out a deserved victory.

The final bout before the break saw two University boxers take on each other; Adam Insam and Simon Welch. This was a highly entertaining bout with both boxers landing some quality combinations, with Adam claiming victory.

During the interval the breakdancing society put on a show in the ring to entertain a packed Lux.

The Breakdancing Society - Image Credit: Luke Simmonds

The first bout after the restart saw a fantastic performance from Mick ‘The Rhino’ O’Sullivan who was up against S Bhanot (Met Police).

Mick dominated with skill and technique, landing solid shots almost at will. Paul Barrie, the Metropolitan Police Coach, pulled his lad at the end of the second round to save him from further punishment.

Gardiner said “I have never seen him so relaxed” when asked how he thought Mick performed. O’Sullivan said “it was a good fight, I had a good opponent from the Met Police. He gave it his all and so did we we and we got the win.”

Mick went on to add “It’s a great club and I’d like to thank Wayne, Q and all the boys”.

The Ninth bout in saw Jimmy ‘Psycho’ Potter take on Police Officer Michael Bahh, the youngest member of the Met Police Squad.

Jimmy Potter lands a punch on Police Officer Michael Bahh Image Credit: Jacob Leverett

Jimmy used his well founded jab, landing with speed at every angle as his opponent tried to attack, giving a unanimous victory.

The next fight saw another all-Portsmouth bout: Mike Saunders took on Matt Harding.

These two lads had a battle worthy of any boxing ring, with the imminent result of the bout swinging backwards and forwards.

The victory was not immediately clear until the final stages of the fight, when Matt Harding was announced the victor.

Bout 11 saw the only heavyweight contest of the night with George ‘The Greek Grenade’ Geogakakis against A Crane of Met Police ACB.

The fight really got the crowd fired up, especially when Geogakakis ended up on top of his opponent.

Ish Al-Albaddy v Ali Zaki Image Credit: Lucy Henry

Ish ‘Bish Bash’ Al-Abady vs Ali ‘Tounge in Cheek’ Zaki, who are both Portsmouth boys were up next, both were well schooled boxers, each trying to outsmart and out power the other.

This was another highly contested bout with Ish Al-Abady just edging the victory.

Bout thirteen saw Portsmouth's Mark Coombs take on Navy Boxer Naz Zapouri.

Coombs maintained a high level of work against an awkward, stocky and durable opponent; both lads had spats of success. In the end however the victory went to Zapouri.

The final bout of an entertaining evening saw Uni boxing club captain Dan ‘Happy Man’ Hendy take on Sam Couzens from Gosport ABC. 

Sam Couzens lands a punch on Portsmouth's Dan Hendy Image Credit: Jacob Leverett

Hendy was facing an obviously bigger opponent and had to push himself hard to stay with the ever-aggressive Couzins.

In the last two rounds Hendy forced the pace, and both boys stood centre ring trading blows with the crowd going nuts. Hendy lost on points but showed a lot of heart in the ring.

Club President Dave Hickey, who was unable to box due to being ill earlier in the week, told Pugwash News: “I’m really gutted, [I] really wanted to box the Police.

Club President Dave Hickey - Image Credit: Luke Simmonds

All the boys are proud to be at this level, the standard of boxing is the best it’s ever been. The boys are superb - they are the best athletes in the University”.

Wayne Gardiner added: “I am over the moon with all the lads and the whole event, I must put a special thank to all the lads and lasses that run the show.

These people do not get enough credit; without their work, the show would not have been possible ... A special mention must go to James Connor who has had the season of his life.”

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This is a fantastic article it is written how a sports article should be and the layout on the page is very professional well done. 
 
If you can do this now why not do it for all sports articles, have people who can write do the reporting and not the clubs themselves. Most articles in purple wednesdays are crap full of banter and are not sports journalism . The back pages let down the rest of the quality content that you guys have. 
 
There are never any quotes in the sports articles give them lessons on how to write.

Andy - Wed, 23 Apr 2008