Boxing: Miah in great start to the new season for Hamer

Hamer coach Alan Bacon, Monir Miah, Hamer coach Steven Connellan

Monir Miah, representing Hamer Amateur Boxing Club, when he beat local favourite Tuseef Suleman of KBW Boxing Club in the first bout of the new season at the Al Hikmah Community Centre in Batley on Friday.

Spurred on by the thunderous applause he received from the crowd on his introduction Suleman quickly took the fight to Miah by landing fast, solid punches to both the body and head.

Miah tried to counter this with fast hands of his own but Suleman replied with more solid blows, which pleased his fans and the noise arose to another level.

It was a tough, gritty affair that saw both boxers take and land heavy blows, but as the round progressed Suleman began to show signs of fatigue and Miah began to take advantage. 

The bell rang for the second round and Miah stormed out with a one-two combination to the head, before landing three thunderous right-hand punches to the jaw. 

Suleman followed up with punches to the body before Miah landed an explosive over-hand right to the top of his head. 

The pattern of the contest began to change, and it was the Hamer youth who began to push Suleman onto the ropes before landing more solid blows, whilst his tiring opponent was content to counter-punch when Miah had stopped punching.

Still it was a very close affair which needed grit, willpower and determination and Miah showed all three when he came out for the third and last round to meet Suleman, who began by using a swift jab that constantly caught the Rochdale boxer as he moved in.

The punch forced him off balance and Suleman took advantage with solid punches to both the body and head.

This continued for a short spell until Miah landed a good right hook to the head, which buckled Suleman's legs. 

Suleman tried to land a massive right-hand swing, which the Hamer youth slipped before forcing the Yorkshire lad into the blue corner to unload more heavy punches.

Both boxers where very tired going into the final seconds of the bout but it was the Rochdale boxer who showed a continued readiness to take the fight to his opponent and in the end it was Miah who had his hand raised as the winner by split-decision.