Boxing: Shahruf Ali wins on return to competitive boxing

Coach Alan Bacon, Shahruf ‘The Bengal Tiger’ Ali, coach Steven Connellan

After a long illness, 13-year-old Shahruf Ali returned to boxing competition with a win by technical knock out against Tyler Sutton of Wirral Boxing Club in Ellesmere Port on Friday (28 October).

In the first round, Ali came looking to step inside his opponent to unload body punches while the tall and slick looking Sutton was relying work on counter-punching.

Sutton was the first to land and the roar from his supporters was thunderous, but Ali took it into his stride. He had felt his opponents power and was now warmed to the task ahead.

The Rochdale boxer began to find his range and as he backed his opponent onto the ropes he unloaded powerful punches to both the body and the head.

Sutton used impressive footwork to escape from the ropes but Ali was in hot pursuit and he chased Sutton into his own corner before unloading more hurtful punches, followed by a vicious right hook to the solar plexus.

Sutton showed immediate distress and rushed across the ring towards the neutral corner and Ali followed to land two more shots before the referee stepped in to stop the action.

The whole room became silent as the referee called the doctor to the ring as Sutton struggled to catch his breath.

The punch had taken its toll and rendered Sutton helpless so the doctor told the referee that the Wirral boxer was unable to continue and Shahruf was awarded the victory by technical knockout in the first round.

Hamer coach Steven Connellan said: "Shahruf's illness was devastating to both him and the club. We had him ready to participate in the schoolboy championships last year but his illness took hold and defeated his hope of gaining the national title.

“He is back now and looking terrific in sparring and has already set his goals on this year’s championships and the title.”