BURNLEY Mechanics hosted a thrill a minute boxing contest for Lancashire’s oldest club – Sandygate Amateur Boxing Club – and local lad Rio Lynch took centre stage in front of a sell out crowd.

Nicknamed DJ, the hard-hitting Stoops estate lad was quickly in the groove against Kai Morley, representing Clayton ABC.

Unbeaten Lynch caught his opponent with swift head to body combinations, and by the second round the Hameldon Year 7 youngster was on course to victory, as Sandygate made the perfect start with a unanimous verdict.

James Danson, making his ring debut against John Bailey from Jennings ABC, also delighted the home crowd with a splendid win against the Chorley boxer.

Reiko Rickwood fought valiantly too, but narrowly missed out on a split decision against Abdul Javid (Bury ABC).

Another unbeaten prospect, Harvey Fletcher, preserved his proud record, but he was made to work very hard for his victory against Rossendale’s Lee Farrelly.

This proved a slugfest of a fight, with both boxers refusing to take a back foot in a furious first round of action.

The second saw a more controlled 90 seconds, but in the final round Fletcher edged it.

Connor Barrow, another promising youngster making his boxing debut, proved too strong for his durable opponent, Aboul Khan from Step Olympic ABC.

These two boxers were evenly matched in style, but Barrow made good use of his stand up style, connecting well with his jab and forcing the Bolton boxer on to the ropes.

Barrow saved his best to last, though, delivering a terrific third round performance and claim a unanimous win.

Reece Farnhill, another boxer from the Sandygate stable who has yet to taste defeat, kept his record intact against Chadderton’s Daugh Ali, making it another win for the boys in claret and blue.

One of the highlights of the show was the title fight for the vacant 50kg North West Regional Belt between North West junior novice champion Brendan Collins and Frankie Perry (Fox ABC).

Collins had to dig deep against a powerful opponent, but he rocked the more experienced Perry, out of the Anthony Corolla Moston stable, with some heavy handed body shots.

The final round was Collins’ finest, and that proved the clincher for the ringside judges as he landed the belt.

Gannow Lane’s Brett Windle put the icing on the cake in the main event, gaining revenge against Merseyside champion Lee Pennington, who defeated the Sandygate star in last year’s National semi-finals.

Naturally, the opening exchanges displayed the pedigree of both fighters, and it although it was nip and tuck after that, Windle claimed victory.

n Brendan Colins became the latest Sandygate boxing to win top honours when he was he won the England Boxing Junior Development 50kg national title.

The 15-year-old beat Kent’s Thomas Price from Gravesham ABC at The Merlins, Isle of Sheppey.

He became the fifth Sandygate fighter to reach a national final in the last five years Anyone interested in joining or sponsoring Sandygate ABC contact 07855 505719 or www.sandygateabc.com