Homerton fighter goes through to London novices finals
Shaun Sol - Credit: Archant
Homerton middleweight Shaun Solomon was crowned north-east London novices champion after a points win over Edges Lucas (Broad Street BC).
Solomon, representing Repton BC in the Class B Under-75kg section, made good use of his left jab and upped the pace in the third round with a series of body punches.
With both boxers prepared to stand and trade, it made for an entertaining contest, but it was Solomon who produced the more eye-catching blows and took a unanimous decision, 40-36, 40-36, 39-37.
“Having not boxed since March I was a bit ring-rusty,” Solomon told the Gazette. “I caught him with some hard punches but he kept coming.”
In the same category, Pedro ABC’s John Ajaya was beaten in the semi-final by Tim Agbetile (Repton), who was aided by a big height and reach advantage – as well as an extra 4kg in weight.
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Both threw powerful punches, but it was the Pedro fighter who took a standing count as Agbetile gained a unanimous decision. Another Pedro boxer, Celal Ozturk, had to withdraw as he has not yet turned 18.
The London finals take place at the TA Centre, Grove Park, on the first weekend in October.
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Former Crown & Manor BC featherweight Matthew Chanda makes his professional debut this weekend on a Goodwin Promotions show at York Hall.
The Zambian-born fighter spent his entire amateur career with the Hoxton club and became their first national novices champion when he defeated Mickey Miles (Wolvercote) in 2007.
Crown & Manor have unearthed a number of top professionals in the past, including middleweight star Michael Watson and Ian Napa, who became British and European bantamweight champion.
Chanda, who will take on Yorkshire journeyman Anwar Alfadli in a four-round contest on Saturday, has memories of watching Napa train at the Wilshire Row club.
The 28-year-old said: “I used to spend my summer holiday at my grandmother’s, just around the corner from the Crown & Manor.
“I used to go into the gym to watch Napa train. One day the coach, Steve Kipps, asked if I’d like to learn how to box and that was how I started.”
