Three more champions for Hamer Amateur Boxing Club

Jude English, Adam Earnshaw and Shahruf Ali

Hamer Amateur Boxing Club has three more champions.

Adam Earnshaw, 12, won the North West Region 32.5kg Minor Schoolboy title after receiving a unanimous point’s victory over Wes Holding of Leigh ABC.

Earnshaw started the contest with crisp one-two combinations to his opponent's chin, whilst using swift footwork to step out of range from the Leigh boxer before stepping back into the action with very fast counter punches. This continued throughout the contest with Holding hoping to connect with his big right-hand punch, but the Rochdale boxer was just content to step back and reply with fast three and four punch combinations to take the title.

Sharuf Ali, 12, had to overcome Tyler Jones, of Blackrod ABC, in a very closely fought contest in the semi-final of the Northwest Region 35.5kg Schoolboy Championships, which the Rochdale boxer won by split-decision to progress to the final.

Ali met Jack Marshall of Irlam ABC in the final and, right from the first bell, the confident Rochdale boxer didn't let his opponent settle as he constantly pushed Marshall back onto the ropes with his relentless attacking style of boxing unloading a continuous array of punches.

The Irlam boxer was forced to move from corner post to corner post in his effort to find some distance from the Hamer youth, who held a tight guard throughout the fight, while bobbing and weaving his way in before landing punches that snapped his opponents head back.

The second round was much the same as Ali piled on the pressure with body shots, followed by punishing right hands to the head.

Marshall tried hard to gain some success in the third and last round but the Rochdale boxer didn't let up as he took his opponent's punches on his gloves before replying with punches of his own, which repeatedly connected, to gain him an enthralling victory by unanimous decision to take the title.

Jude English, 12, progressed through to the regional finals by default, which were held at the Croxteth Sports Centre, Liverpool on Sunday 10 May. 

Hamer Head Coach Steven Connellan said: "That was a very good performance by these young boys.

"Adam had lost to his opponent earlier on in the season, but throughout the season I knew that he was gaining invaluable experience in other competitions and it showed in this contest because Holding was never in the fight.

“Sharuf was also gaining experience throughout the season and I knew it was only a matter of time before he showed us just what he is made of.

“All three go into the regional finals now, which is fantastic for this great old Rochdale club of ours and I hope they all can progress even further.”