Express & Star

Star guest on a knockout night

James Beech JNR was the special guest as Pleck Boxing Club brought the curtain down on a successful season.

Published

Walsall’s unbeaten Midlands super featherweight champion handed various awards at the James Bridge Copper Social Club in Alumwell as the club reflected on another year of progress that brought success both locally and internationally.

William Webb, aged 12, was crowned Midland champion on his way to reaching the semi-finals of the National Schoolboy Championships in the 32kg category.

And 17-year-old old Haidar Hanif (63kg) tasted success while on duty for England in an international match against Italy in Rome.

“We are very proud and pleased with all off our boxers,” said coach Bobby Wood. “It’s been a really good season.

“We had a very good selection of newcomers coming through and all of our licensed boxers have won nearly all their bouts. All in all our boxers have boxed tremendously well at all levels from club shows to championships to internationals.

“We are very pleased with William who reached the semi-finals of the national championships and Haidar who fought and won for England.”

The club has seen an increase in numbers over the past year and Wood feels that more success is around the corner.

“The club has enjoyed a bit of an up-turn in the last 10 to 12 months,” added Wood. “A few lads have come back to the gym to train and it’s given the place a bit of a boost. The new season will start in October but we will keep the sessions going as usual on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.

“Some gyms shut down for a while but we want to keep our lads at it and want them to be ready for the new season. We have some really special lads coming through and next season we are looking for a national champion or two.”