Record breakers (From Swindon Advertiser)

Record breakers

7:40am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Boxing

Walcot ABC broke another club record at Bristol on Sunday when all five of their boxers won their schoolboy championship quarter-final contests, writes DAVE VEYSEY.

There were 27 bouts between the Western Counties champions and the champions of the Southern and Eastern Counties, and when Walcot's Jimmy McDonagh entered the ring, the West were losing the contest count 7-1.

The 13-year-old met the highly-rated Tony Saunders (Rumbles Academy) in a class two (38kg) match, and it was a close affair throughout the first two rounds, with the score 10-9 in McDonagh's favour.

The final session saw the Western Counties Champion raise the tempo to land with hard straight rights and run out a 16-12 points winner.

Also winning through to the semi-final stage was McDonagh’s sparring partner Said Eltuyev, also 13. The talented switch hitter was always in command over Woking's unbeaten Mylo Singh in a class two (42kg) encounter.

Said scored with fast left jabs and left hooks, while his nimble footwork kept him out of trouble when Singh attacked. It was an impressive performance and a winning scoreline of 19-11 did not flatter the Walcot boxer.

Completing the win treble was 13-year-old Kieran O’Donoghue, who met Guildford’s Lewis Mathews in a class two (44kg) clash.

The Dorcan pupil enjoyed the better of the exchanges during a close opening round, which he led 6-5. During the second session Kieran scored with numerous left jabs, forcing Mathews to hold.

He increased his work rate for the remainder of the bout to record a 15-10 points victory.

The fourth Walcot youngster to have his arm raised by the referee was fifteen-year-old Lawrence Rees.

With his uncle, Harold Scott Jnr in his corner, he comfortably overcame the useful Billy Castle from Little Hampton ABC.

This match was a class three (57kg) contest, and from the outset Rees controlled matters with his long left leads and straight rights.

After a fairly one-sided contest the Walcot boxer probably deserved more than his 9-4 victory margin.

Completing the five-timer was England Schoolboy Patrick McDonagh,15, who met Jake Gibson from Billericay in a class three (60kg) bout.

Patrick attacked throughout the opening two minutes and was unlucky to only be leading 5-3 at the bell.

During the middle session McDonagh scored with southpaw right jabs, straight lefts and uppercuts to open up a 14-5 advantage.

The final round saw Patrick maintain his form to record a comfortable 22-7 points success.

Delighted Walcot coach Harry Scott said: “From the 27 bouts, the Western Counties only managed eight wins, so for Walcot to gain five out of five was a tremendous achievement.

“All our lads have trained hard and deserve their success. Now all five must concentrate on the semi-finals.

“I must thank all my coaching team for their hard work in the gym which paid dividends.”

The semi finals will be next weekend in Feltham, near London.

• WALCOT’S junior boxers returned from their trip to the Ruislip and District ABC event in West Ealing with a win double.

Eleven-year-old Johnny McDonagh, at 28kg the lightest boxer in the Walcot gym, faced the aptly-named ‘Lennox’ Gill from Golden Ring ABC in Southampton.

The opening round saw McDonagh on the attack, with the elusive Gill dancing around the ring to avoid punishment and then landing occasional shots on the counter.

During the second session the Walcot youngster stepped up the tempo and scored with left jabs and a heavy straight right.

McDonagh edged further ahead in the final round to claim a majority points verdict.

Completing the double was Milo Bolton, also 11, who encountered Bobby Savage from the host gym in a 32kg contest.

The Londoner used his superior reach to good effect during the opening exchanges, scoring with his left jab.

However, Bolton slipped inside his opponent’s reach to land with fast straight rights to redress the balance.

Both boxers went on the attack during the second period, but it was the Swindonian who produced the more effective scoring shots.

Bolton continued to hold the upper hand for the rest of the contest, and a classy uppercut landed seconds before the final bell sealed a unanimous points victory.