Three wins in a row for Hamer boxer Jude English

Jude ‘Too Tough’ English

Hamer boxer Jude English travelled to the backyard of three opponents and beat all three in the space of just eight days.

The first of the 13-year-olds fights came on Friday 19 February when she met Samantha Neave of Eastside Boxing Academy of Hull at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall.

English started the first round very well by using fast three-punch combinations before employing neat footwork to step out of the range of her on-coming opponent.

English was constantly the first to land and the last to finish as she used fantastic ring general ship to keep her distance from Neave.

Neave didn't take a backward step throughout the round as she pursued English but it was clear to see that English had her flustered every time she stepped in close.

In the second round English continued to off-load swift combinations before using the ring to her advantage to get out of range. This continued throughout the round as English connected with punches to both the head and body and although the Hamer corner thought she had done enough to win the round, it was a much closer than the first.

English's corner told to try and take the fight to her opponent in the third and final round, just to make sure of the win, when the bell rang English stormed out to confront her opponent in the middle of the ring.

Both boxers where tired now, but credit to the hard sparring English received going into this fight, she dug deep and continued to throw telling punches to take the contest by unanimous decision.

English made a three and a half hour journey to take up the challenge of Droitwich boxer Sophie Morton at Stourport Civic Hall, Stourport, Worcester on Friday 26 February.

At the opening bell both boxers set to entertain the fight fans as they clashed in the middle of the ring with heavy and punishing punches. This went on throughout all three rounds in what was a very close fight but in the end was awarded to English by split-decision.

The very next day, Saturday 27 February, English was on her travels again to take on Tamzin Woolstencroft of Partington ABC at The Fuse on Warburton Lane, Partington.

After traveling back for three and a half hours the night before, English was hoping to get into the ring early but to her disappointment she had to wait until the fifteenth bout before she could step onto canvas due to six championship bouts taking place beforehand - when she finally stepped between the ropes to meet her slightly taller opponent it was 10:15pm.

English started as instructed, and threw a thunderous right hand punch which connected with the chin of her on-coming opponent, making her step back onto the ropes. She immediately followed up with heavy punches to the body and head but Woolstencroft managed to escape the onslaught.

English knew she had the power to hurt Woolstencroft so she began to take her time and enjoy the evening with swift counter-punches that continuously connected under the long reach of her opponent.

This continued throughout the first and second round and when English had Woolstencroft on the ropes she planted her feet to throw hurtful punches to both the body and head.

By the start of the third and last round English knew she was in-charge but to her shock her opponent came storming after her at the sound of the bell.

Both boxers stood toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring and to the roar of the crowd both began to exchange heavy head shots.

Woolstencroft pushed English back to her own corner with solid punches and at one point the crowd thought that maybe she could finish it, but English used her experience and turned her opponent on the ropes and began to finish the round with telling blows to both the body and head, which put a stop to her opponent's bravery.

When the bell rang English came away with a well-deserved win by a unanimous decision.    

Bethany Connellan also represented Hamer at the Cleethorpes Memorial Hall on Friday 19 February when she met local boxer Jess Carrington of Fusion ABC.

Carrington had a foot and a half height advantage, along with a substantial reach advantage, over 17-year-old Connellan and the Hamer girl struggled to get in close to an opponent who used her extensive range to win the contest.