Amateurs boxing clever for title success

THE line-ups for the Welsh ABA semi-finals are complete after more than 40 preliminary round bouts last weekend.

Penlan in Swansea and Pencoed near Bridgend will now host the next stage of competition on March 11 and 19 respectively as contestants battle it out for a final berth.

Dowlais puncher Jamie Evans, a beaten finalist last year, was one boxer to win two fights at the Michael Sobell Centre in Aberdare. He saw off Bonymaen’s Mano Lee and Richard Kukla of Llanederyn to set-up a last four meeting with Mountain Ash’s Tony Dixon at 69kg.

Nico Morrison was another man to triumph twice in Aberdare, wins over Sam Baker and Omar Rashid saw him go through to a semi against Tiger Bay’s Ryan Thomas, who beat Daniel Edwards.

There was plenty of action at 75kg and 81kg with a bumper field in both weight classes producing some eye-catching dust-ups.

Those making it through to face each other in Pencoed at 75kg were local Bridgend hope Gareth Thomas, who at 30 is the oldest left in the division, and Leon Goodman, while Phillip Evans will face Daniel Richards.

At 81kg, it’s Jones vs Jones as Merthyr Ex’s Morgan clashes with Tredegar’s Luke in Pencoed while at Penlan, Commonwealth Youth Games competitor Nathan Thorley, who beat Tom King and Joshua Jones to make the last four, fights Prizefighter ABC’s Callum Evans.

Trostre’s Owen Harries, the oldest man left fighting, will have a tough task on his hands in Penlan when he locks horns with Mountain Ash’s Lloyd Davies, a winner over Prizefighter’s Phillip Davies on Sunday.

Among those progressing in the Youth section was Splott’s Levi Lawrence, a victory over Jacob Robinson, son of former world champion Steve Robinson, setting him up with a 56kg semi-final against Kieron Daley on March 19.

Also in the older ‘B’ section, North won over South at 75kg as Llangefni’s Matthew Griffin saw off the challenge of Heads of the Valley ABC’s Jordon Davies in one of a few semi-final fights to take place last weekend.

There was another success for the North when Andrew Wilson of Dyffryn ABC got past Premier ABC’s Richard Jones in their 60kg semi while the last four at 69kg features Gareth Huffin against Aled Cook, ensuring a North Wales fighter will be in the final.