Bulkington enjoying real boxing bonanza

Leison Taylor beats Emilius Navickis. Picture: Clive Wood Photography

THOSE entering Bulkington boxing club should be warned to wear shades as protection from the glint of silverware.

And the titles just keep coming.

In the NABGC championships, Leison Taylor and Leon Chandler both bagged Midlands titles on Saturday. And the following day, at the same Acocks Green venue, they won their national pre-quarter finals bouts.

Leison, aged 16, beat former national champ Theo Newton (Box Smart Elite, Walsall) in a real nip-and-tuck Midlands final at 52 kilos Class B. The decision was split.

Bulkington’s Franke Waugh said: “He boxed very well against a very good technical counter-puncher. He used his feints and gave a mature performance.

“It’s a shame they met in the Midlands because it was worthy of a national final. They’d never faced each other before, but have been sparring partners for a very long time.”

The national pre-quarters proved less taxing, with Emilius Navickis (Lions Den), being halted in the first after taking two standing counts.

Leison, who has won 25 of 39 contests, is one to watch. This year, he’s already reached the Junior ABA finals and represented England.

Leon Chandler outpoints Rudy Taylor. Pic: Clive Wood Photography

In the Class A 60kg Midlands final, Leon Chandler outpointed Ranver Deer (BCB). The 15-year-old was simply too big and strong. He gained another unanimous decision in the pre-quarters, this time over South Derby’s Rudy Taylor.

Bulkington already have two guaranteed national finalists, courtesy of a lack of opposition in their weight categories. Remi Cummings, aged 17, will go for gold in the Class C 75 kg category.

In Class B 46kg, the club will be represented by 16-year-old Sam Birks, a boxer with an interesting story.

Sam decided to give the sport a go after younger brother Alfie took a national schoolboys title – and has taken to it like a duck to water.

He’s lost only one of eight and last month bagged the national Class B 44 kg junior development title. The final, against Shakil Sameer (Saifs, Rotherham), proved a ding-dong battle. Sameer took a standing count in the first, but returned the favour in the last round before dropping the decision.

Now a national champ…that’s Sam Birks

Franke added: “Sam’s only been boxing competitively for three or four months and the one bout he lost was on a split decision.

“He’s a come forward pressure fighter who is still raw and improving. It’s his willingness to do everything to win that’s getting the results.”