Southern Counties Senior Novice final

18 year old St Mary’s ABC boxer Oliver Edwards stepped into the ring as an underdog when he contested the southern counties senior novice middleweight title last Saturday in Camberley. He could have been forgiven for having a few nerves when he stepped in as it clear that his opponent A. Hibbert (Golden Ring, Southampton) was bigger boxer in stature who and was filled with confidence having stopped his previous opponent the week before. However, Edwards used his double jab to get inside his opponents reach and set up clear scoring right hands to both head and body, before darting back out of range on several occasions. In the 2^nd round Edwards again used his speed advantage to often beat the upright and technical Hibbert to the punch, although these raiding tactics were starting to take a toll on the smaller Edwards. Going into the third and final round, it was clear that the strong Hibbert was going to go for broke and Edwards was told by his corner men to step to his right, which was away from  his opponents dangerous right hand. Hibbert was now walking Edwards down, and although he was catching Edwards with more regularity, Oli was still coming back with some counters of his own. Edwards early work had played dividends and he was not only awarded the bout via majority decision, but also his best scalp to date as Hibbert had won 10 of 12 bouts going in. Oli has now won all 5 of his bouts and goes through to the pre quarter finals in Rochester on Sat Nov 2^nd. Dan Woledge is back in action for St Marys in Leysdown this Sunday (27^th), when he meets the eastern counties champion from Essex in the National ambition championships. This will be Dans’ first bout since winning twice in two days for the gold medal at the Haringey box cup in June and he will be looking to impress once again. St Mary’s are hosting the Southern counties V’s Home counties round of the national Senior novices in the afternoon at Kings Rochester on Sat Nov 2^nd (where Edwards boxes) and then hold their own show to raise funds to build their new club on the plot of land they have purchased, at the same venue that same evening.