Boxing: Islington Club Recap
Published: 11 February, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT
THERE were mixed fortunes for two up-and-coming young fighters from Islington Boxing Club this week.
Top junior prospect Ben Turner was first in the ring when he saw action at the Ruislip and District ABC show on Friday at the Trailfinders Sports Club in Ealing.
Competing in the 56kg category, the powerful 13-year-old went head-to-head against home favourite Spencer Butcher over three energy-sapping rounds.
In the opening round Butcher made the brighter start as he initiated all the early attacks, but Turner just kept a tight guard and allowed his opponent to let off a bit of steam.
It wasn’t long before the Islington fighter forced Butcher on to the back foot with his superior work rate and strong hands.
In the end Turner’s skill, strength, and stamina was enough to earn a unanimous decision from the judges.
Further afield Islington’s Stephanie Louis-Fernand, 19, put in a tremendous display against Jessica Lyons from St Mary’s Boxing Club in Ireland.
Despite stepping between the ropes in front of a partisan Limerick crowd, Louis-Fernand looked as relaxed and confident as she would fighting back at her home club in Hazellville Road, Upper Holloway.
The welterweight used her jab to maximum effect, backed up with a tremendous straight right hand whenever she had the chance.
In the end, however, boxing four, two minutes rounds for the first time and conceding 3kg in weight took its toll as the judges handed Lyons a unanimous verdict.