Its only the first half of the season and UWE boxers are already winning titles and taking on the best!
So the 2011-1012 season has drawn to a close, and what a season it's been. Last year UWE fielded only 2 boxers (Sean Heveran and Demian Attwell) at the annual BUCS championships and walked away with 2 bronze medals, this year that figure has quadrupled itself.
UWE Boxing team captain Sean Heveran was the first man into the ring this season. Heveran entered the annual ABA Novice championships, becoming the southern division champion, and on the 6th of November boxed for the title of Western Counties light-middleweight champion.
The regional final was held in Filton WISE, a stones throw from Frenchay campus. Having missed the 10am weigh-in due to heavy motorway traffic, Sean lept onto the scales at 69.5Kg, 2Kg lower than his Somerset based opponent. Hardly half an hour later the first bell rang as the UWE captain met Matthew Gabb from Devizes Amateur Boxing Club. Gabb, having a weight and strength advantage tried to come on strong, but Heveran worked hard and fast from the outset, quickly putting the opponent on the back foot. The match stayed the same throughout with Heveran out boxing his opponent who found it hard to match the speed, fitness or agression coming from the UWE man. The final score 43-10 to Heveran. Heveran later progressed to the ABA English quarter finals where he came unstuck in a hard faught contest with Shaun Soloman of Repton ABC (also a university student). Heveran looked as if he would win the fight on points until a low blow took the wind from his sails allowing Soloman to nick the bout in the final round. Final score 14-12 to the Repton boxer.
The university boxing calendar began in Janurary where the first round of the EUBS met in Doncaster. UWE mustered a team of 4 debut boxers, along with novice boxer Greg Chinembiri and UWE captain Sean Heveran. After an eventul trip up country they arrived at the sports hall venue and joined the event. First up was UWE Boxing club president Marvin Magusara who lost narrowly in a points decision, a tough first bout! Next up was another debutant, Khaled Abdi. Abdi came across a taller built opponent, but managed to score well using some very interesting moves to win on a unanamous points win. The day closed with Ryan Lewis suffering some kind of physical breakdown in the opening seconds of his match, forcing the contest to end.
The next day gave UWE another debut in the form of Cedryc. Entering the ring he must have felt like Rocky vs Drago as his opponent appeared to be almost a foot taller. Under the guidance from a borrowed cornerman from the University of Portsmouth ABC (cheers Wayne!) Cedryc survived the onslaught and gave a good fight until a third round stoppage was given in favour of the opponent.
It was looking bad for UWE, until Greg Chinembiri took to the ring against a Pompey rival. Greg used his experience and skill to convincingly beat his opponent, even knocing his opponent down with 10 seconds left in the final round. A unanimous win for Greg, bringing UWE to 3 losses and 2 wins.
The final bout for UWE had to wait until the end of the day where UWE team captain Sean Heveran would face his UCL based opponent. Heveran was the shorter of the two men but managed to nullify the height advantage with good foot work and hand speed. A skillful display of good, technical boxing earned the UWE fighter victory at the end of the match.