2014 GB Youth Championships Report
Day One
First up for Scotland was 60kg Scottish Youth Champion Ukasha Farooq against the Welsh Champion Sam Parry. It was a good start from Ukasha (Cash) against the taller Southpaw Welshman working at a high work rate.
Farooq took the contest to Parry leading off with the rear hand and getting good success in doing so. The Welshman was trying to keep Cash at bay with the long jab but Cash continued to press forward weaving under the jab and landing some decent right hand punches on target followed by the left hook to head and body.
This was the pattern for the whole contest – anytime the Welshman closed down Cash he was met with some nice uppercuts inside as Cash kept up his high work rate throughout.
Winner Points Farooq SCOTLAND
Jordan Beveridge 64kg – Jordan was boxing against the highly rated Englishman Patrick McDonagh.
Both boxers had some success in the opening exchanges of the contest with Beveridge throwing some powerful punches both at long and short range.
Both boxers were more than willing to trade punches and the bout was a real crowd pleaser with McDonagh getting the upper hand then Beveridge coming back and showing why he is Scottish Champion.
The 3 rounds were similar with both McDonagh and Beveridge working well for the duration of the contest, the Englishman just shaded the bout with the slightly higher work rate which earned him the points win. Winner Points McDonagh ENGLAND
Eddie Copeland 75kg – Eddie was boxing against Ellis Delaney from England.
Delaney and Copeland started slow in the first round as both boxers were looking for openings using long lead hands probing for an opening, with neither boxer really having much success.
Round 2 saw Delaney up the pace considerably and he started to dictate the pace with Copeland having some success with his rear hand.
It was Delaney who was controlling the distance battle but round 3 started better for Copeland and he pushed his opponent back and landed some decent punches on target.
This was a better round from Copeland until near the end of the bout when he got caught with a rear hand then a front hand hook from Delaney forcing the Referee to stop the contest. Winner Delaney TKO3 ENGLAND
Paul Burns 81kg – Paul came in at short notice (Thursday 6th) for this contest against the Englishman Viddal Riley.
What a great contest this proved to be with both boxers having some success at both close and long range.
Paul edged the first round with some really good combinations and pushing forward at every opportunity.
Round 2 looked close again with both boxers throwing plenty punches and it was hard to see who landed the better and most punches.
Paul went in to round 3 determined to win this and showed tremendous determination taking the contest to the Englishman who was having to retreat under pressure.
Riley also showed tremendous will to win and also put in a great amount of work so at the end on the bout it was always going to be close – Unfortunately for Paul, it was the Englishman who got the nod by Split Decision.
Winner Riley Split Points ENGLAND
After the first day of boxing Scotland had 6 Boxers in the Final – Lee McGregor 49kg, Stephen Boyle 52kg, Ukasha Farooq 56kg, Lewis Hay 60kg, John Docherty 69kg and Connall McDonald 91kg.
Day Two
Lee McGregor 49kg – Lee was going in against the very experienced and highly rated Sonny Edwards from England.
Lee and Sonny started the contest at breakneck pace with plenty of punches being thrown by both boxers but the more telling shots were coming from McGregor landing some very nice overhand right hands.
This didn’t deter Edwards who pushed forward at every opportunity willing to work inside as well as at range.
McGregor spurred on by the local crowd had to dig deep for this win and came back with some great combinations that caught the eye of the judges as well as landing the more telling shots.
Nevertheless, this was a very close bout as Edwards work rate was excellent. After the judges scores were in it was McGregor’s arm that was raised following this highly entertaining contest. Winner McGregor SCOTLAND
Stephen Boyle 52kg – Versus Muhammad Ali of England.
This was a re match from last year’s G.B Youths held in Wales with Boyle wanting to get revenge after he had lost on points last time out.
Both boxers had the same idea with both punching virtually non-stop in the first round, with Boyle trying to get his shots off then using good foot work to move away from the ever progressing Ali.
Round one was close as both boxers had punched and landed with good scoring blows. Round two saw Ali starting to establish a lead maintaining his fantastic work rate throughout the entire round.
Boyle was now feeling the pace but pushed on regardless and again had some decent success with some very good lead hand hooks over the defense of the advancing Ali, who was who was now having the better of the exchanges.
In round 3, Ali started as he had left round 2 with constant pressure punching non-stop. It was a testament to the boxers fitness and determination and it was Ali who dictated the pace and was a worthy winner. Winner Ali Points ENGLAND
Ukasha Farooq 56kg – Boxing against the Englishman Peter McGrail who had received a bye to the final.
McGraiul is noted in England as being a great prospect but Farooq disregarded any form book and took the contest right to McGrail from the off.
McGrail struggled initially with the unorthodox style of Farooq and couldn’t land any decent punches with Farooq always willing to work hard both at range and in particular inside when the opportunity came.
McGrail settled into his rhythm as the contest progressed taking a step back as Farooq pushed forward and landed some decent counter punches.
Not to be out done Farooq came back with his bustling style and kept the pressure on McGrail for the entire bout it was a close contest but McGrail just edged it.
Winner McGrail ENGLAND
Lewis Hay 60kg – This was a straight final between Hay and Dalton Smith from England as the Welsh representative withdrew due to illness.
Again, Lewis was up against one of England’s very yalented and strong youths and Hay started brightly trying to draw in Dalton for the counter.
He had some success in doing so but it was Dalton’s strength that caught the eye. He was a very strong opponent and Hay had to be careful not to get caught.
Hay was now boxing totally on the back foot, trying to nullify the on coming Dalton and looking to land the counter in the process. However, it was Dalton that was dictating the pace and ran out the winner at the end of the three rounds.
Winner Dalton ENGLAND points
John Docherty 69kg – John was boxing the Welsh Champion Dino Smith who had already boxed the day before and had a very good win over the Englishman Jimmy Smith.
John started well using long lead hand punches and over hand rear when his opponent was in range.
Smith struggled to get in range with Docherty as he constantly adjusted his feet when Smith came forward and landed some decent counter shots.
Docherty was never behind in this bout but had to be at his best to defeat Smith, constantly drawing in Smith then countering with nice straight one two combinations. This was the pattern of the contest and Docherty can be proud to have beaten a very good Welshman to become the G.B Youth Champion.
Winner Docherty SCOTLAND
Connall McDonald 91kg – Straight Final for Connall against the Englishman Daniel Dubios.
McDonald started the contest at a great pace and the Englishman struggled to come to grips with him in the first round.
McDonald was throwing some great body and head combinations then stepping back and coming in for further attacks.
However, the Englishman changed his attack in round two and pushed forward at McDonald more causing the contest to become short/mid range.
McDonald was more than willing to work inside as well but near the end of the second he was trying due to the fast pace he had set.
It was going to be a hard last round but the crowd lifted McDonald and he managed to keep it going till the final bell. This was a highly entertaining contest and to be fair was very close but it was McDonald who got the nod.
Winner McDonald SCOTLAND.
In summary, Team Scotland performed fantastically well in front of a passionate home crowd.
3 gold and 3 silver medals for Scotland was a tremendous achievement with the winners selected for the British team that will compete in the 2014 World Youth Championships being held in Bulgaria in April.
Congratulations and well done to all the team.
