Southern Counties Schoolboy Championship

“School mates Levi Lewis and Cameron Beech, both contested the Southern counties schoolboy finals in Sevenoaks last Saturday. The St Marys ABC boxers are also in the same year group at Greenacre school, Chatham. First up was Lewis (12) , in class A under 54kgs against Brad Jones (Golden ring, Southampton).  Although Jones tried to take it to him in the first round, Levi used his height and reach advantages and speared his opponent with jabs, which kept Jones off balance. More of the same straight shots through the guard were seen in the second, so much so that one judge gave the round 10-8 to Lewis (clear winner with dominance).  Jones stuck to his task well in the third but although Lewis slowed down a bit, he still caught the oncoming Jones on the way in with enough uppercuts to still win the round on all the judges’ scorecards, for a clear points win. Next in at the weight class above (class A under 56kgs), was 13 year old Cameron  Beech. Pitted against another Hampshire opponent in Connor Grant (Heart of Portsmouth), Beech was straight down to business and began forcing his slippery opponent to the ropes, where he looked to unload combinations to the head and body. If anything, Beech was over eager and got too close to his opponent, but after Grant felt Beeches power, he began taking evasive action. Grant began using spoiling tactics by throwing a punch, then holding on to Beech and not letting him work. This eventually lead to Grant having a point taken away, which further cemented Beeches dominance. Camerons arm was eventually raised in a unanimous decision from the judges. Hot off a great points victory in the Kent V’s Surrey round last weekend against the much fancied L.Saunders (Farnham warriors), Robert Caswell was left frustrated when there was no one of a sufficient standard from Hampshire or Sussex for him to box in the class B, under 32.5kgs category, so received his regional title on a walkover. All three are now through to the national quarter finals where they will take on the champions of the Eastern counties on March 22nd, as they bid to progress in this national schoolboys competition”.