English gains first win of the New Year

Former champion Billy Hardy, Jude English and Hamer coach Steven Connellan

Jude English, of Hamer Amateur Boxing Club, gained her first win of the new year when she beat Ellie Wilson, of Leam Lane Boxing Club, in an all-female Olympic style amateur boxing contest featuring the Tyne Tees & Wear Golden Girls versus England Select at Birtley Boxing Gym, Birtley on Saturday (14 January).

The show was hosted by the former British, Commonwealth, European champion and two title world title contender Billy Hardy.

Wilson and English immediately came out looking to assert themselves and take control of the centre of the ring.

The much taller Wilson began by looking to use her extensive reach advantage while English bobbed and weaved with her tight defence.

It was English who connected first with a terrific left hook to the head and Wilson backed off.

Wilson came in again, looking to keep her punching long but English caught her again with the same punch.

As the bout progressed it was Wilson who began to take control with her fast one-two's to the head before stepping out of range. English began to stand off her opponent which made it easier for the local girl to catch her with clean and solid punches to take the round.

Before the start of round two English was told by her coach Steven Connellan not to stand off her opponent and to use her double jab and right cross to force Wilson onto the ropes then unload hooks to both the body and head.

Jude came out for round two more determined to get back into the contest and it showed instantly when Wilson made the mistake of forcing the action and the Hamer girl responded with heavy counter punches to both the head and body.

To the delight of the boisterous crowd, both boxers showed great determination to win the bout but in every exchange, it was English who looked to be landing the heavier blows which give her the advantage.

Before the start of the third and final round English was told to up the pace that little bit more and to con-tinue to force her opponent onto the ropes.

The bell rang for the last round and both competitors met in the middle of the ring, hoping to take control of the round. Wilson resorted back to her long reach advantage, hoping to keep the Rochdale girl on the end of her jab. While English pressed forward looking to land the much heavier punches.

Both girls put in a terrific performance as they swapped punch after punch, but as the bout continued it was Wilson who began to show signs of tiredness and allow the Hamer girl the momentum to land her punches first, which gave English the round and the bout by split decision.

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said: "That was a fantastic performance by Jude. She was matched against a really good girl in there and she trained hard throughout the Christmas period to win that contest.

“I know at times she struggled to get into range, but as soon as she did, her punches began to tell.

"I keep telling this young girl that she has great potential and that she should be more confident in her own ability because when she does begin to realise that she has a promising talent, then she will have the makings of a very good boxer and there will not be many out there who will stand in her way.”