Boxing: Hamer's Alfie McKay wins in Liverpool

Hamer boxer Alfie McKay with Ethan Corness from Salisbury ABC

Alfie McKay travelled to Liverpool on Tuesday 26 April to face Ethan Corness from local club Salisbury ABC.

It was a last-minute call up for the 14-year-old and it wasn't until the weigh-in that he realised that his opponent was nearly two kilos heavier. When the boxers entered the ring it became clear that Corness was also much taller.

When the bell rang to start the first round, the Hamer boxer stepped out of the blue corner against the partisan crowd to instantly take the action to his foe with swift one-two combinations. Alfie continued to press the action throughout the round and when he stepped in close after forcing his opponent onto the ropes, he unloaded numerous hooks to both the body and head.

At the interval Alfie was told by his coach Steven Connellan because his opponent was much taller than him, he should jab to the body before unloading an overhand right hand to the chin of his opponent. He was also told to step in with his double jab, right hand before stepping out of range.

The bell rang for round two and the Rochdale boxer immediately showed great determination as he continued to force the action and at one-point Corness hit the canvas, but it was not deemed a knockdown blow by the referee who allowed the action to continue once he had wiped the Liverpool boxer’s gloves.

Corness began to use his height advantage to try and keep his opponent at arm’s length with his jab and his swift right hand which instantly caused the crowd to lift the roof off the building when he caught Alfie on occasion as his Hamer opponent stepped into range. But it wasn’t enough to keep the determined Rochdale boxer at bay and as he stepped forward with his double jab, he landed a solid right hand to force Corness into his own corner where the Hamer boxer unloaded numerous unanswered punches upon his opponent.

In the third and last round Corness came out more determined as he began to force the action and he caught Alfie with two solid right hands to the chin which quickly prompted the crowd to rise to their feet and applaud the action. Then suddenly Corness was on the canvas again, but the referee deemed it another slip and when he allowed the action to continue Alfie forced his foe into the neutral corner where he unloaded numerous punches upon his opponent before Corness escaped the onslaught by using the ring to keep his distance from his Hamer antagonist.

The final bell was drawing close, and Alfie tried to make sure that the judges were looking at him as he continued to force the action and when the bell finally rang to end the bout the referee raised his arm in victory.

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan was overjoyed with the win for his boxer. He said: "That was a terrific victory for Alfie against his much taller opponent and a hostile Liverpool crowd. He only had his first ever bout for us three days earlier for us when he lost a very close split-decision in the fight of the night against Leland Skinkis of West Wythenshawe ABC.

"I didn’t what him to dwell upon the defeat too much because he was terrific against Skinkis in a borderline fight that could have gone either way. I knew we had it to do in Liverpool, but I also knew what Alfie could do if I got him a bout right away and it proved correct when he put on another terrific performance to gain the win."