Great night for Oak Leaf club

OAK LEAF Amateur Boxing Club celebrated its 20th anniversary in style on Sunday night when hosting a high profile Youth & Cadet International in the Everglades Hotel.

With the event sold out well in advance, an appreciative audience watched Ireland defeat Scotland side 8-4, the promotion dominated by high quality action with many of the young boxers in both teams now aiming for places in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

It showcased the local clubs four national champions, who were all included on the Irish Team.

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Oakleaf coach Kevin McGilloway commented that it was a proud day for our boxers their families and the Oakleaf Boxing Club, he said: “It’s taken quite a while to get our club to were it’s at just now, it’s taken a lot of hard work from the boxers, coaches and all associated with the club, in this our 20th anniversary year.”

Tom Stokes got the home side off to a winning start with an excellant win over reining Scottish champion and GB finalist Dylan Arbuckle, the young Oakleaf southpaw has come on leaps and bounds this year, this win will do wonders for this confidence.

Illie’s G/G (Golden Gloves) Lt flyweight Leigh Moran continued Ireland’s winning run.

European bound Francie Stokes put on a master class of boxing to defeat a very game Callum Cook 12-4 and his club mate Brett McGinty also off to the European Schoolboy Championships in Russia extended Ireland’s lead 4-0, the St. Johnston youngster back to his best after injury winning 13-4.

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All boxing fans in the North West will be wishing these two young lads every success in Russia in October.

Oakleaf’s fourth member on duty was Ryan Green, who boxed an exhibition with Scotland’s Jack Crawford, Green had already defeated the young Scot before, so team Scotland decided on an exhibition.

Credit to Scotland for rallying in the second half of the programme but it was Team Ireland who finally won the match 8-4. Oakleaf chairman Eugene O’Kane thanked all the guests present on the night the Mayor Councillor Kevin Campbell, Donegal Mayor Frank McBrearty and IABA president Tommy Murphy and a special thank you to Olympic Bronze medalist Micheal Conlon. The chairman also thanked all the sponsors, especially Foyle Taxis and Derry City Council.

The Irish Youth side is currently preparing for the 2012 AIBA World Youth Championships in Armenia in November and December. Ireland have claimed six medals - two gold, two silver and two bronze - at the last two AIBA World Youth Championships in Azerbaijan and Mexico.