Audley awards are a knockout success! (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Audley awards are a knockout success!

7:25pm Wednesday 8th August 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

AUDLEY Amateur Boxing Club have rounded off a successful season with its annual awards presentation.

The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Maureen McGarvey, was guest of honour as the club's senior and junior boxers, as well coaches, were honoured for their efforts over the past 12 months.

In the senior awards category, Mudafer Ilyas was named most promising boxer. The 22-year-old middleweight showed over the past year that he could be a fighter to be reckoned with next season after some impressive performances.

And the same could be said about Farhan Iqbal when the light middlweight, also 22, scooped the most improved boxer award.

"This season, Farhan has really turned things around," said head coach and club founder Yaqoob Hussain. "He has won three of his five fights and has done really well. Mudafer is also a fighter who has shown signs that he could be a good boxer and next season could be a very good one for him."

In the junior section, Shakeeb Ali was named boxer of the year after one of the best season's in his fledgling career.

The 15-year-old won some notably fights this year and impressed in defeat to the talented Haroon Khan, the younger brother of Amir Khan.

The club presented five most improved boxer awards.

Qasim Nasir picked up his award after winning a gold medal at the Box Cup in Denmark, a competition the club enters every year.

Saban Kasser, who lost in the final of his bout in Denmark, was also named as one of the club's most improved boxers along with Rick McGregor, Thomas McBride and Raja Afzal who also won gold in Denmark.

Waqas Ilyas was named the club's most consistent boxer for hardly missing a training session.

Yaqoob added: "We wanted to award Waqas for the commitment he has shown over the past 12 months. He is a great youngster to have around the club and his dedication is second to none. He has hardly missed a training session all week and he even does his homework here while he waits for his brother to finish training."

Dave Grierson and Steve Judge picked up the coach of the year awards.

Yaqoob said: "I would like to thank Blackburn with Darwen Council for their support over the year and also to the Mayor for coming along to present the awards. She made the night that extra bit special."