An impressive crowd descended on Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell today (Sunday) for the first Amateur Boxing Scotland Home International of the new season as Scotland took on Ireland.
Scotland’s best Schoolboy and Junior boxers took on the Ireland’s top talent in what was set to be a great test of Scotland’s boxing development at this level against one of Europe’s most accomplished boxing nations.
Ireland took the Red Corner with Scotland Blue
Paddy Donovan (Ireland) v Ryan Ball (Scotland)
Ryan Ball started well landing a few telling punches in the opening round. Young Irishman Donovan was livelier in the second round and started to make it count. Young Ball knew he had to go for it in the final round and came flying out the corner. However it was Donovan who scored better winning the bout 6-4
Jordan Myers(Ireland) v John Lee Joyce (Scotland)
Tense opening to the bout with young Scot Joyce starting strongly. Into the second round and Myers tried to dominate from the centre of the ring but couldn’t land any decent combinations. The final round was a high octane affair with both boxers giving their all and it was young Scot Joyce who came out on top winning 11-4.
Kyle Meehan (Ireland) v Calum Cook (Scotland)
The first round started at an extremely fast pace with both boxers starting well. Irishman Meehan was showing slightly more control which showed in the punches landed. With both boxers giving it everything, Meehan continued to dominate with young Cook receiving a standing count in the final round. Young Irishman Kyle Meehan’s domination proved decisive in a 16-11 victory.
Oliver McCarthy (Ireland) v Regan Dunn (Scotland)
Bout 4 started slower with both boxers standing off. Young Irishman McCarthy began to press and landed a few blows which young Dunn couldn’t answer. The second round started in the same vain although Regan Dunn began to come back with some combinations. The young Scot pushed McCarthy all the way in the last round but couldn’t find a way through his tight defence and the Irishman finished the stronger, winning 5-0
James McGivern (Ireland) v Steven Knox (Scotland)
After the Irish had begun to take the advantage in the contests, Scotland had to respond with a strong performance and that they did with Steven Knox putting in a strong display against Ireland’s McGivern. Both boxers put in a strong display with the final round producing a big finish. Despite a defeat 13-5 , young Scot Knox’ performance would give the Scots encouragement.
Adam Higginbottom (Ireland) v Stephen Newns (Scotland)
Young Scot Newns was fast out the corner, building on the previous encounter, not letting his opponent settle. Irishman Higginbottom began to press more and came back into the bout. Newns maintained the pace throughout and using his long jab ran out a strong winner 13-4
Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v William Hutchinson (Scotland)
After success in the previous bout, the spectators were lifted and this one was an all action affair them which really got them going. Both boxers went all out for victory, spurred on by the noise of the crowd. In what was a high scoring contest, young Hutchinson came out on top winning 13-9
Peter Keenan (Ireland) v Kyle Boyle (Scotland)
Scotland were now on the front foot pulling the contest score back to 4-3 overall. Young Scot Kyle Boyle was looking to make this momentum count and using his height advantage and quick punching he dominated the first two rounds, with young Irishman receiving a standing count in the second. Young Scot Boyle continued to press and ran out an impressive 16-0 winner to level the overall score at 4-4.
Calvin Turner (Ireland) v Christopher Bradley (Scotland)
Ireland needed to up their game again and in a fast paced encounter, Irishman Turner never stopped throughout the bout. Young Scot Bradley tried to stay with his opponents fast pace but the young Irishman’s all action style proved too much as he won 9-4.
Francis Cleary (Ireland) v David Dalziel (Scotland)
The young Scots didn’t want Ireland to regain a strong advantage and David Dalziel did his best to prevent it in a high energy encountered which the crowd really enjoyed. Despite giving his all young Dalziel went down 11-6 to Irishman Cleary, although put in a tremendous performance overall.
Adam Curley (Ireland) v Peter George (Scotland)
In what was a closely fought contest, both boxers produced a great performance, each landing some impressive blows. Even throughout, the scores were tied going into the final round, with young Irishman Adam Curley just doing enough to take the bout over Peter George 7-5
Willie Donoghue (Ireland) v David Burrell (Scotland)
Using a water tight defence, Team Captain David Burrell brought Scotland back into the contest, picking his moments to land the telling punches. Despite Irishman Willie Donoghue’s best attempts, he couldn’t find a way through often enough and David Burrell ran out a 14-9 winner to bring the overall score back to 7-5.
Conor Martin (Ireland) v Stephen Boyle (Scotland)
Bouyed by the Team Captain’s performance, Scotland were looking to capitalise and bring the scores back closer once more. Using quick feet and fast hands, young Stephen Boyle put in a great display to bring the Scots back into contention with a 9-3 victory and bring the scores close once more.
Colm Molloy (Ireland) v Alex Patterson (Scotland)
In another high energy encounter, both boxers put in a great shift, each landing some decent blows throughout the contest. The bout remained even going into the last round and this showed as the two young boxers both went all out for victory. The majority of the crowd tried their best to get behind young Scot Patterson and in a high scoring encounter; young Patterson levelled the scoring at 7-7 with a 20-15 victory to set up a grandstand finish to the day with two bouts remaining.
Garry Cully (Ireland) v Brandon Singh (Scotland)
In the penultimate bout, Ireland’s Team Captain Gary Cully took on Scotland’s Brandon Singh. Knowing what was at stake, both boxers were giving it everything in a fast paced contest. Despite young Singh landing a number of blows, Irish captain Cully’s long jab proved the deciding factor, winning 17-8.
Sean Higginson (Ireland) v Ryan Downer (Scotland)
The last bout of the day saw Ireland leading 8-7 overall so this was always going to be a battling performance and so it proved. Both boxers were putting in a powerful display and the contest was very even, setting up a tense final round. Young Downer gave his all for the Scotland cause to try to tie the contest overall in the tightest contest of the afternoon. He managed to do just that overcoming Irishman Higginson 9-8 to level the International at a very respectable 8-8.
The latest Home International on the road to Glasgow 2014, proved to be another great success and shows the progress Amateur Boxing Scotland are making in the standard of boxing in this country at all levels. More Internationals will follow and all present today will testify that these events are not only fantastic entertainment but a chance to show Scotland are now making real strides as a boxing nation.
