An afternoon of championship boxing was staged in Stevenage on Saturday. Stevenage ABC held an open show at the Marriotts School and there were 11 bouts to decide who progressed to the quarter-finals of the junior novice championships. The only Stevenage

An afternoon of championship boxing was staged in Stevenage on Saturday.

Stevenage ABC held an open show at the Marriotts School and there were 11 bouts to decide who progressed to the quarter-finals of the junior novice championships.

The only Stevenage boxer involved was Shane McDonnagh who went through when his opponent failed to show for the weigh-in!

In the evening session, the club filled one side of a 12-bout card.

Danny Ovendon, 13, dropped a unanimous decision to Sandy boxer Billy Hampton.

Sean Egan, 12, suffered a second round stoppage to tall March ABC fighter D Hedges.

Marriotts schoolboy Johnny Dooley, 12, turned the tide as his all-action style was the undoing of Connor Crosby from March.

Another 12 year old, Zane Banton, produced an excellent display of nifty footwork and clever counter punching to outbox Bushey's Ben Smith.

Sonny Smith, 13, never stopped trying against Walsall Wood's Joe Stevenson and pushed the Brummie boy all the way before dropping a points decision.

Billy Lee, a tall and lean 12 year old from the host club, outpunched his Sandy opponent I Mustapha for a quality points decision.

National Golden Gloves champ George Crotty landed the more telling blows to take a hard-fought majority points decision over George Griffin of Colchester's Centurian club.

Another of Stevenage's national champions, Terry Holmes, was too busy for Walsall Wood's Luke Paddock and deserved his unanimous decision.

Stevenage's Billy Crotty and Bushey's Davey Docherty, with more than 130 bouts between them, went head-to-head with Docherty emerging victorious via a unanimous decision.

Eighteen-year-old Harry Marshall was back to winning ways with an excellent display in beating tall R Thake (Rayleigh Mill).

Justin Perry, a former national schoolboy champion, returned to the ring after three years away and won a majority decision over his Birmingham opponent.

Bradley Evans was introduced to the crowd before the entertainment began.

He makes his pro debut a week on Saturday (November 8) at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.

Tickets and travel are still available. The coach is leaving the Man in the Moon pub in Broadwater Crescent, Stevenage, at 3.30pm.

Call Dave Blows on 07908 544298.

* Minotaur ABC had another victory on Saturday on the Stevenage show held at the Marriotts School.

Debutant Ross McKeown won a unanimous decision over a strong Stevenage boxer, 11-year-old Harry Eales, also making his debut.

Everyone at the Minotaur club was proud of the 12-year-old southpaw on his first outing.

The club is based in the Combat Centre in Wilbury Way, Hitchin, and anyone wanting to box or train there should call 07899 064003.