In the Ring: Amateur scene takes centre stage

WITH little happening on the professional boxing scene until into the new year, the region's amateur scene takes centre stage over the next few weeks.

In a recent interview with Alex Oliver of Brandon ABC he spoke often and highly of the newest member of their set-up. Karl Turner is a well-known athlete in and around the Deerness Valley area of County Durham having dabbled in a number of sports including football and cricket.

Recently returned from a stint in Australia, where he spent the previous cricket season, he returned to his County Durham roots, having had a few amateur bouts and he trains at the gym in Brandon. It was that previous fight experience, and Karl’s interest to go further, that sparked Oliver’s interest.

He said: “With Karl having tried some boxing whilst down under he approached me at the start of this season and asked whether we would let him compete for us.

“It was a nightmare start to be honest. We had Karl matched for two fights really early but they fell through for one reason or another and what made matters worse is that, on both occasions, we had sold a large amount of tickets which left a lot people disappointed including Karl’s grandfather who supports him everywhere and in everything.”

Throughout all those trials and tribulations of trying to gain a start within the fight game, Turner remained both upbeat and focused on the job at hand. As an athlete his dietary intake and training were never going to be an issue, it was more overcoming despondency. Then the big moment finally arrived and Turner was ready to make the amateur debut for the BBC.

Oliver said: “He was finally fixed down in Liverpool on November 21 and our dedicated coaching staff, Adam Oliver, Simon Patterson and Paddy O’Connor went down with him; one of our juniors was also supposed to be on that night but he weighed in too heavy and we believe that, no matter how far we travel, our fighters safety is paramount so, although the young lads fight was pulled and he was left disappointed, we have him matched again this month.”

No matter what happened elsewhere Turner was making his debut and, although the BBC staff were told his opponent, Jamie Turner, had been in two bouts it was later discovered he’d in fact had five but they went ahead against a more experienced opponent.

“He boxed a well supported and highly touted local lad,” Oliver continued.

“Following a close opening round we saw Karl go on to dominate the rest of the contest and going on to take a wide points decision resulting in one very happy grandfather.”

The instant success and recent addition to the BBC has gone down a storm locally as well with Mr Oliver adding, rather jovially: “Karl is also mighty handsome and has become the local pinup.

“The club has had more friend requests on our Facebook account since his debut than we have had in the past year. Seriously though, he is a fantastic role model to the kids and remains in great shape, trains exceptionally hard and is a fantastic ambassador not just for Boxing but for sport in general.”

Elsewhere on the local scene there were shows at Brambles Farm ABC on December 3 and Boldon ABC the following day.

In the former four of the six home fighters won with Jahmal Weaver taking his bout against Kirkby’s Harry Woods on a unanimous decision. The show also hosted two female bouts in which Hartlepool Catholic’s Danielle Marshall and Brambles Farm’s Macy Kilkenny claimed victory.

On Tyneside the following night all but one of their seven fighters suffered defeat as S. Wright defeated L. Scott (North Road Gym), four of those seven even suffered agonising stoppages. In the bout of the night Spennymoor’s Aaron Camsell took on Tootill’s Daniel Pettler, the duo going at it for the three solid rounds.

Unfortunately in the fight game there is, more often than not, a definitive outcome, draws being a rarity and on this occasion the win would go back to Spennymoor courtesy of Camsell’s unanimous decision success.