O’Neil’s Boxing Club have been celebrating their boxers’ success at the Scottish Novice Championships.
Four fighters from the Cambuslang gym won gold medals at the Ravenscraig event. Rhys Purcell fought at 52kg and won his 2007 fight against Jonathan Karnphan while Jacob Reilly beat Ryan Barbour at 54kg.
David Euan Thorburn withdrew from his 80+kg bout in the 2006 stage and O’Neil’s fighter Zik Ugbolue became a gold medallist because of it.
Meanwhile, Adam Patton won his fight with Ross Doig to claim his winners medal in the 71b (E71 Bkg) weight category. Luke Stirling was also in action at the event.
Coach Brian Murphy said: “It was another good day for the boys of O’Neil’s. Zik was preparing for his final having won the semi-final the day before only to learn his opponent had withdrew from the competition.
“In this case having previously won his semi-final Zik was awarded the gold medal. Next up was Rhys Purcell and he was facing a very tough opponent who marched forward. Rhys proved too much for his opponent, forcing a stoppage in the second round to secure gold.
“Jacob Reilly faced a very skilled southpaw. Both boys traded off in the first with Jacob taking the upper hand. This pattern continued in the second and in the third. Jacob kept up the pace and secured the points win.
“Last was Adam Patton, boxing in the Elite category, again like Jacob, was facing a clever southpaw. Even though Adam landed with some good punches of his own, it seemed that the best way would be to put the pressure on his opponent.
“So the next two rounds had Adam force his opponent on the backfoot, preventing him from moving in with quick combinations and Adam secured a gold medal.
“Well done to all our boxers who took part, including Luke Stirling who was put out in the quarter-finals.”
The club have been training out of Priestfield Boxing Club in Blantyre recently and Murphy added: “We would like to thank Priestfield Boxing Club for allowing us the use of their premises, as our facilities are still closed.
“We are waiting on South Lanarkshire Council undertaking the work to repair our roof.”
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