Boxing: Hamer’s Aeron Maddocks takes NW senior championship title

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan (left), Aeron Maddocks and Hamer coach Frank Maddocks (right)

Aeron ‘The Viking’ Maddocks of Hamer Amateur Boxing Club turned the form book upside down last Friday (25 March) when he thundered into Ashton Masonic Hall in Ashton-under-Lyne to beat the former national champion, Kai Morley of Clayton ABC, to take the coveted North West Region Senior Championship title.

Maddocks showed his intentions from the very start of the contest when he stormed out of the red corner on the sound of the first bell to land an explosive right-hand to the chin of Morley.

The Hamer boxer continued to stalk his opponent from the middle of the ring to force Morley onto the ropes, whilst the Clayton boxer had his hands down by his side, hoping to land his own quick counterpunches as Maddocks came towards him. This continued as Maddocks continuously forced Morley onto the ropes before unloading numerous combinations to both the body and head.

At the start of the second round, Maddocks upped the pace of the action a little to unload several more effective punches to both the body and head. Morley tried to use every inch of the ring to keep his distance from the Hamer fighter, who continued to stalk his opponent before unloading more hurtful and aggressive combination punches.

This continued throughout the round, with Maddocks determined to find an opening so that he could land a barrage of punches upon his opponent, whilst Morley looked to land his swift one-punch responses before trying to protect himself as he remained upon the ropes.

Maddocks charged out for the third and last round to unload a torrent of punches to both the body and head of Morley, who could do nothing but cover up and protect himself from the on-coming storm.

Maddocks remained focused as he drove punch after accurate punch upon his opponent, who was struggling to keep up with the pace of the Hamer boxer: on the sound of the final bell, Maddocks’s arm was raised as the new North West Region Senior Champion.

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said: “It was a terrific performance from Aeron who followed our instructions to the tee to beat this vastly experienced national champion.

“We knew we had a mountain to climb against Kai Morley, but Aeron showed how much he has improved when he took control of the fight from the very start to take his victory.”