Boxers out to show eastern promise in quarters

THE MARCH to glory continues in the English Schools' Championship tomorrow.
Heart of Portsmouth's Harry Brown Picture: Mick YoungHeart of Portsmouth's Harry Brown Picture: Mick Young
Heart of Portsmouth's Harry Brown Picture: Mick Young

Moneyfields and Heart of Portsmouth (HOP) have ensured a strong presence for the city at the quarter-final stage of the national competition.

And they will be backed by Team Wiseman, with Frankie Stanley progressing with victory against the Western Counties last weekend.

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Jay Cooper led the way for Moneys at 41.5kg in Class A, with the 13-year-old taking just 66 seconds to stop Mayflower’s Bailey Phillips.

He now faces Fenland Sparta’s Jasper Cluraja for a semi-final spot.

Kyle Bateson joined him there after he defeated Chard’s Fire Virk at 46kg in Class B.

Bateson meets Lowestoft’s Frankie Bacon with his confidence on a high after his latest victory.

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Taylor Sutton remains in the competition and he will be given another walkover at 54kg in the minors.

Moneys coach, Colin Hooker, said: ‘Jay looked impressive and we tried some different tactics with Kyle which worked. He managed to put out the Fire!

‘Taylor looks like getting a walkover straight to the final.

‘He’s a southpaw, strong and has the heart of a lion.’

HOP are well stocked with talent as a trio of boxers bid to continue to the semi-final stage.

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Oliver ‘Fast Hands’ Fenton, Lloyd ‘The Animal’ Farrington and Sonny ‘Dynamite’ Driscoll make up the boxers from the outfit still in the competition.

Farrington showed his explosive power at 38.5kg in Class A when he gave Bodmin’s Joshua Price a standing count on the way to a second-round stoppage.

Driscoll put in a classy effort to use his power and skill to defeat Downend’s Joe Adams at 37kg in Class B.

Harry ‘Bomber’ Brown came up just short against Frome’s Tyler Kelly at 43kg, but HOP are strengthened in the quarters with Fenton involved at 35.5kg.

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HOP’s head junior coach, Paul Kapnisi, believes the club’s talents are getting the reward for the effort they are putting into their preparations.

He said: ‘All the boxers have worked very hard in preparing for this tournament and all the hard work is showing through in their contests.’

Stanley now faces Chadwell St Mary’s Patrick Doherty after beating Guernsey boxer Jake Fletcher at 44.5 in Class A. Coach Daron Wiseman said: ‘Frankie is quiet but a clever little boxer who has won eight bouts on the bounce now.’

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