CLAYTON ABC held a very successful nights boxing with more 200 spectators enjoying an exciting night with 12 bouts taking place - nine of them involving the host club.

The night began with a ‘skills bout’ where Alex Haworth put up a tremendous effort and showed that he is now ready for the real thing.

The show also included to two girls representing Clayton. Porsche Hubbersty, 14, was unlucky to lose as she was in a real ding dong of an affair before injury forced her to retire while 12-year-old Kai Morely took part in an entertaining bout, but did not get the decision.

Dalton Bancroft, from Accrington, won a very tough fight against Patrick Maughn of Wildcard BC - but there was only going to one winner in this encounter.

The talented youngster used his strength to push his opponent on to the ropes time after time and connected with a terrific right hand in the second round which sent Maughn to the floor. The Wildcard boxer did well to recover and stay the distance, but it was the first win of the night for the Clayton club, by unanimous decision.

JJ Price from Huncoat boxed a rematch against Sam Ballie of Littleborough BC in what was a real nip and tuck affair and a clash of styles.

Price, the taller of the two, boxed at range and picked off his opponent with good left hand work and turned with a left hook when under pressure. Ballie came forward and had success of his own with his overhand right and in the end it proved to be enough for the Littleborough fighter who got the split decision.

Owen Stacey from Clayton put in the performance of the night as he utilised his left hand jab perfectly against Matt Purt of Mosside BC.

Working behind a solid job to set up right hand and left hand hooks, Stacey forced Purt in to a standing count in the second round - eventually leading to the Mosside corner men waving the towel.

Tommy Ellsmore boxed for the vacant North West title at 54 kg against George Frost.

In what was an exciting bout, the shorter Frost pushed forward at every chance against the taller Ellsmore.

But the Clayton boxer, with good footwork and fast hands caught his opponent at will appeared to have done enough to win - however it was Frost George who was awarded belt much on a split decision.

Dean Thompson, 18, for Colne was involved in a barnstormer of a toe-to-toe contest with Rhys Taylor wjp caught the eye early on.

But Thompson soon settled and the pair traded blows continuously. The fitness levels were fantastic. This bout could have gone either way but Thompson got the nod on a split.

Last up was 18-year-old Charlie Martin from Nelson up against Omar Uman from Blackburn. Omar a tall southpaw could not deal with the overhand right hands raining down on him. He took a second round count before Martin was crowned winner.