Boxing: Double Trouble gain victory in Wales

‘Double Trouble’ Ben Braddock and Austin Heneghan of Hamer Amateur Boxing Club travelled to The Labour Club in Llandudno, Wales to test their skills against local welsh opposition on Sunday 5 May.

First to step into the ring was 11-year-old Ben Braddock who stormed out in the first round to land stiff one-two combinations to the head of his opponent Mitchell Jones of Llandudno Boxing Club.

This continued throughout the round as Braddock forced Jones onto the ropes whilst jolting his head back with solid punches to take the round.

Before the start of round two Braddock was told by his corner-man Steven Connellan to continue throwing one-two combinations as his opponent came towards him, then try to force Jones back onto the ropes whilst continuing to land punches.

The bell rang and this time it was Jones who stormed out to take the fight to the Hamer lad with fast combinations which forced Braddock to defend himself as he took punches to the head. Eventually Braddock composed himself and he began to find his range again with a continuous stream of solid punches to the head that forced Jones around the ring.

In the third and last round the Hamer youngster forced his opponent back into his own corner and he landed six unanswered punches to  the head which forced the referee to step in and administer a standing eight count before allowing the bout to continue and when the bell rang to end the contest it was the Hamer youngster who had his hand held high in victory by an unanimous decision. 

Next on for Hamer Boxing Club was 11-year-old Austin Heneghan who met another Llandudno boxer in the shape of Sean Jones.

The bell rang for the first round and both boxers took to the middle of the ring to throw and land punch after punch upon each other.

Jones was strong for such a young lad and Heneghan could feel his punches, but the more accurate blows came from the Hamer boxer who began to put his punches together with swift combinations and at one point he landed a solid left hook which knocked the head guard clean off the Llandudno boxer's head.

As soon as the head guard was placed back upon his head, Jones stormed after Heneghan again, but he was met by precision punches to the jaw as he swung out to try and land his own punches.

Before the start of round two, Hamer coach Steven Connellan told Heneghan to wait for Jones to come at him with his swinging arms, he was told to step back onto his back foot and throw his straight right hand to the chin as Jones came towards him.

The bell rang for the second round and Jones did exactly what the Hamer corner envisioned, he came out throwing aggressive swings, but he was met by a straight one-two combination which jolted his chin. 

By this time Jones was beginning to tire and he began to back off from the Hamer boxer which allowed Heneghan time to pick his punches but when Jones sprung an attack, Heneghan stepped back onto his back foot to land solid one-two combinations to the head.

This happened on numerous occasions and Heneghan took the round.

In the third and final round Heneghan continued to land straight punches to the head as Jones swung punches that missed.

Jones was tiring by now, which allowed the Hamer boxer time to set his feet and every time Jones came towards him, Heneghan met him with solid punches to the chin to take the contest by a unanimous decision.

Hamer coach Alan Bacon said: "For lads so young, both boxers put in a terrific performance.

“They could have let the Welsh crowd get to them, but they stayed composed and boxed to instructions which helped them gain the victory.”