Strong showing at Antrim 12s for Evolution Boxing Club
It was a highly successful and action-packed few nights for Carrickfergus-based Evolution Boxing Club at the Antrim 12s Championships in the Shankill Leisure Centre, with strong performances across the board resulting in multiple medals and valuable experience gained.
The tournament began on a high note with Ben McMurran producing an impressive semi-final performance, stopping Taylor Flannigan of Holy Trinity to secure his place in the final.
McMurran’s commitment in the lead-up to the competition was clear to see, and his performance reflected the hard work put in during preparation.
Finals night brought further success as Benjamin Murray was crowned Antrim 12s champion, claiming the gold medal following a composed victory over Darragh Lorry of Saints. Murray delivered a confident performance, showing maturity and control to secure the title.
In another final, Carter Crossan narrowly missed out against Sean Dundon of All Saints. Despite the result, this was only Crossan’s second competitive bout, and the improvement he continues to show was evident, with plenty of positives to take forward.
The final night of competition saw three boxers in action, including two championship finals.
Aston McNamee added to the club’s medal tally with an excellent performance in the 56kg division, defeating Shay Murray of Holy Trinity to secure a gold medal after a disciplined and well-controlled bout.
Later in the evening, Ben McMurran returned to the ring and claimed a silver medal following a tough final against Zac Nichol of Monkstown. McMurran’s achievement was particularly notable given that he had been inactive for two years before returning to competition with just four weeks’ preparation, a testament to his dedication and determination.
Cruz Blair was also in action on the final night, securing his place in the final with a strong semi-final stoppage victory over Darragh O’Brien of Ormeau Road, following an earlier opponent withdrawal. Unfortunately, due to a cut sustained during the bout, Blair was later withdrawn from his final on medical advice. Despite the setback, Cruz now turns his attention to the All-Ireland qualification tournament, firmly setting his sights on the next major challenge.
In total, the club entered six boxers into the Antrim 12s Championships and finished the tournament with three gold medals, two silver medals, and strong performances across all bouts.
The week’s results highlighted not only the commitment of the boxers, but also the work and preparation put in by the coaching team.