New additions to the representative team saw several of the boxers who were boxing in the Development Championships before Christmas: Josh Millington – 27 Regt RLC at 51kg, Owen Karau 7 Regiment RLC at 54kg, Lewis Harvey 27 RLC at 60kg, Jack Power Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers – REME at 81kg and Jack Hindmarch The Rifles at 92kg.
The IS Boxing Championships is competed over 11 competitive weights: 54, 57, 60, 63.5, 67, 71, 75, 80, 86, 92 and over 92kg. Due to limited entries from the RAF (injuries) and Royal Navy (availability) there were only 6 Championship bouts giving the Army 5 W/O wins at 54kg Pte Karau, 57kg Sgt Khan, 71kg Pte Nevison 27 RLC, 80kg LCpl Power, 92+kg Cpl Nihell, unfortunately, the 51kg is not a counting weight.
The championship bouts were contested by Pte Lewis Harvey v Cpl James Thompson with the much less experienced Harvey winning via 3 judges to 2 split decision. Harvey stole clear single shots and managed to hold his own in the exchanges.
Pte Connor Sommerville 3 Para v AC Blaine Lambert. Lambert took the win on a split 4 :1 decision with the RAF boxer the busier and more accurate. Sommerville having only joined the team in January there is lots of potential in this boxer.
Pte Jordan Shaw AGC with the Irish Gds v SAC Taylor Andrews. Shaw was very accurate in his punches with the RAF boxer always game, but punished by walking on to shots in his pursuit of the soldier. An extremely accomplished performance for the AGC boxer, with Carnell Brown our only previous AGC National Champion. Shaw has a target for the future to emulate the 86kg 2021 National title.
Rfn Leon Harris v Cpl Brad Axe – Harris has only had 2 bouts as a senior boxer (a boxer qualifies on their year of birth (2003) becoming a senior in the year they turn 19 yrs old) the first was his semi-final on Monday and the second in the final. Given that he has been out of the ring since before COVID and joining the Army, his loss to Cpl Axe by such a narrow margin, it is clear that he will win an IS title in the future and has the potential for higher at National Level.
LCpl Josh Plummer v SAC Emyr Parry – A tough ask for the Coldstream Gdsman who has been on op tour and career courses and not been in a ring since his loss to GB Boxer Ben Fail in the 1/4 final of the England Champs in April 2019. Plummer put in a game performance and took one for the team in some respects; but nevertheless a true warrior.
LCpl Jack Hindmarch v Lt Kyle De Banks RN – Hindmarch is another of the team who boxed at Development Level in the England Boxing Championships pre Christmas, losing out in the semi final. His development caught the eye and chin of his Development Coach Cpl Chez Nihell, who became his sparring partner in preparation for the Championships. Hindmarch found himself having to work harder than anticipated to keep the rifleman at bay. Hindmarch took control of his bout earlier on winning the first 2 rounds, but with De Banks planning on hanging his gloves up at the end of the campaign, the Navy Diver threw everything he had left in the last round which was not for the purist but two brave, tired and mutually respectful boxers hugged at the final bell.
A great night of competitive boxing with Army and RAF winning 3 apiece on Championship bouts and the Army winning the IS trophy 8 points to 3 showing true grit and determination.
The event was streamed live on Forces News and can be viewed here https://www.forces.net/…/watch-british-army-win-2022…