Gosport Boxing Club prepare for annual show

With at least 11 fights currently on the card, organiser and coach Darren Blair is confident of a spectacular evening’s entertainment.

Of the bouts lined up, five will be all-female contests.

Blair said: ‘It is almost unheard of to have so many female bouts on the card.

‘We’re able to do this because we have so many females who are competing at the moment.

‘It’s going to be a brilliant show.

‘We have fighters coming from clubs across the region, including Guildford, Farnham and Winchester.’

Tickets for the pre-fight dinner have sold out, while spectator tickets will be available for £15 on the door.

Several of the fighters, including 13-year-old Bethany Day, will be making their boxing debuts.

Blair feels it is the perfect chance for the young boxers to make their mark.

‘I always start the show with a couple of younger fighters just to get the night up and going,’ he said.

‘It will be a taste of the action for Bethany with a skills bout.

‘Later on in the night we’ll also have 15-year-old Pearce Monday looking for a first win and he stands a really good chance.’

Gosport’s Mabel Smith will be one of the senior fighters on show, taking to the ring against a female boxer from St Gerrard’s Club.

In the final fight of the night, Matty Smith is competing in his first amateur boxing bout.

Blair is confident all the fighters will put on a good show.

‘Matty is 79kg, so he’s a big, strong lad.

He’s up against a boxer from Guildford, so it will be an eye-opener.

‘Matty is on as the closing bout, so we are confident of a big finish from him.’

Blair also organised a boxing show last weekend in which the club’s Gemma Crane, 35, won her first-ever fight.

The Gosport coach praised his debutante for her performance, and highlighted how she stepped up from fitness classes to take on the challenge.

He added: ‘Gemma came to us two years ago just to keep fit but eventually decided she wanted to fight.

‘A lot of people come to us to keep fit and decide to have a proper bout after some training.’

Another Gosport fighter will be in action later this month.

Amy Cooper will take on Taylor Smith, from Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Club, for the English title on November 26.

Blair believes this is a fantastic opportunity for Cooper to demonstrate her class

He added: ‘Amy is really up for it, she is looking sharp.

‘Both girls are quality and both have won England belts before so it’ll be a great way to end the year.’