Success for Lisburn boxers at recent Co. Antrim Novice Championships

Lisburn ABC entered five boxers, Declan Moore, Ben Lancaster, Ryan Roy, Karim Finnley and Mosa Kambule.

Up first was young Ben Lancaster who was having his first fight.

As the bell went his opponent came out fast, pushing Ben back on to the ropes with a one-two and as Ben got to grips with him, the local lad started to make his opponent miss with some nice counter punching.

As the fight went on Ben began to show his authority and won the fight to make the final.

In the final, where he faced a more experienced fighter, to Ben’s credit he gave as good as he got and landed some brilliant shots and in the end was narrowly beaten. A fantastic effort by Ben.

Up next was Declan Moore, who like Ben was having his first fight.

As the fight started Declan’s opponent came out fast but Declan caught him with some lovely uppercuts and hooks, which sent his man back.

In the end Declan won easily and advanced to the final.

In the final, Declan started strong and hurt his man with a volley of punches as the ref gave his opponent a standing count.

In the second round Declan started quickly and moved in and out to land some great shots to which the ref stopped the fight and Declan was crowned Co. Antrim champ and well deserved too, to win Boy 2, 44kg.

Karim Finnley stepped up next and again like Ben and Declan, this was his first ever fight.

As the bell went Karim (KT) pushed his man back and caught him with a powerful right hand and sent his man rocking onto the ropes.

After that his man did not want to know and it was only a matter of time before KT stopped his opponent and that came as he caught him with a wicked right hand to the body and some nice shots to the head and the ref stepped in and stopped the fight.

In the final, KT faced a harder challenge, or so he thought. His man started strongly, throwing a series of hooks which caught KT by surprise.

But he used some nifty footwork and got out of danger and started to dominate the round with some great one-two’s and movement, giving his man a standing count.

The second round Karim came out strong and hit his opponent with some powerful shots and eventually stopped him and was crowned Co. Antrim champ at Boy 5 66kg.

Unfortunately for Ryan Roy there was no one in his weight and he received a walkover.

Next up was Mosa Kambule, who had reached the final and had only one fight. He faced an opponent much taller, but Mosa was not fazed.

As the bell sounded Mosa went to work, bobbing and weaving out of reach of his man’s long reach and unleashing a powerful one-two, which stunned his man. Mosa went to work on the body stepping in and out with good effect.

In the second round Mosa’s man got a couple of good jabs in to push Mosa back but with some great movement Mosa countered and caught him with a great right hand, which busts his opponents nose and after that it was all Mosa.

The third round was more of the same as Mosa used his movement to good effect and out punching his man.

In the end Mosa won easily, 3-0, to be crowned Co. Antrim champion, Boy 7 67kgs.

A fantastic performance from all the boxers.

Once again Lisburn Boxing Club enjoys more success in another competition and would like to congratulate all the boxers. Well done.

Recently the club was invited to the Mayor’s Chamber to commemorate the club’s long standing in the community as Lisburn Boxing Club has been going nearly 70 years, with two of its founding members still attending the club, Kenny Coates, who is 91 and Frankie Prenter, who is 85.