Charlie Hoy is handed the runners-up trophy

Repton duo beaten at final hurdle

Sad-faced Brett Beadon accepted his defeat in the senior ABA finals at Colchester on Friday night with a note of defiance: “It’s been a bad night for Repton, but we will be back - as winners.”

Lightweight Beadon and club pal Charlie Hoy took home runners-up awards after finishing on the wrong end of points verdicts against northern rivals in the national finals.

Tall southpaw Beadon who earlier sparkled in his first senior title campaign, failed to show his best form against classy Sam Maxwell from Liverpool’s famous Salisbury BC.

Maxwell took early control of the contest as he moved smartly inside Beadon’s long armed punches and scored with his own fast-punching combinations.

The Repton boxer showed brief glimpses of his best form but his low-hands style left him open to his rival’s rapid-fire attacks.

The extra experience of the seasoned England international proved decisive against the Repton 18-yar-old as he clinched a 20-9 points verdict.

Flyweight Hoy also conceded age and experience against his final rival, tall southpaw Jason Cunningham but the 26-13 verdict in the Hull boxer’s favour seemed one-sided.

The Repton boxer made the early running, slipping inside Cunningham’s long range jab and scoring with bursts of punches at close quarters.

Cunningham who reached the ABA finals two years ago when Hoy was still chasing junior prizes, enjoyed his best success in the final round. I had the pair close at the finish - some ringside watchers even had the Repton boxer ahead.

Hoy questioned the scoring:”I don’t know how they had him so far ahead - I did not think he landed many clean punches.”

Friday the 13th proved a bad night for Repton with a team of boxers going down to a 5-3 defeat when they travelled to take on a strong north east squad in Sunderland.

Top senior award on the show went to Repton’s Ramon Levy-Vassie who dominated the clash with Dave Tweedle for a clear win.

Noah Stanley also boxed well for a unanimous verdict over Sunderland rival Carl Flisher while London ABA finalist Umar Sadiq also registered a clear win over Joe Bonnali.

Tight verdicts went against Repton boxers as Tony Comby (Spennymoor) was a majority winner over Repton’s Robert Beck and another Spennymoor boxer Ray Ellis also won a split verdict over Mike Evans-Smith.

In other clashes Ken McDonald outpointed Repton’s Lucca Reid, Lee Ratcliff (Sunderland) outpointed Sean Soloman and Les Cunningham outpointed Lee Newman (Repton).

Repton’s juniors face their last hurdle on the long ABA junor title trail at Medway Valley Leisure Park,

Rochester, Kent on Sundayhen the south of England semi final winners face their northern rivals.

Lansbury boxer Shingo Afghan was a worthy winner when he gave a bright display against Zac Ruch (Haddenham) at Cambridge on Saturday .

Adam Flirianowicz was also in winning form in Lansbury colours, when he outpointed Cameron Wade (Lowesoft) on the Hornchurch club show.