BOXING: Watson's in the groove (From Oxford Mail)

BOXING: Watson's in the groove

11:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Sport

Oxford University’s James Watson claimed the boxer-of-the-night award as the Gown were beaten 8-5 by the Town at the Oxford Union.

The Corpus Christi fighter came from behind to outpoint Tewkesbury southpaw Gavin Maber in an absorbing light welterweight clash.

In the same category, Dark Blues debutant Tom Eliasz was unlucky to lose out on a split decision to Southampton’s Billy Parker.

Oxford’s Alex Littaye made a dream start to her ring career by halting Bristol rival Shannon Gee in the second round of their light welterweight clash.

The Linacre representative imposed two counts – the first from a flurry with the second prompted by a solid right hand – to herald the end.

A late rally from Harley Mace, the most experienced of the Oxford contingent, proved crucial in getting the nod over Priory Park’s Ashley Shingler.

Oliver Harriman delivered a captain’s innings as he bowled over fellow southpaw Dan Botean (Hanwell) with a double hook combination on his way to a clear points success.

Another welterweight, Connor Husbands, used his extra height to triumph over Kent University’s Shahaab Qaiser.

But despite imposing a standing count from a flurry in the final session, Oxford’s Nick Ng (Linacre) was beaten on a split decision following his debut lightweight bout with Tewkesbury’s Michael Taylor. Standing counts were impos-ed in the second 60kg clash as David Wray was beaten by Riezl Siret (Kent University).

Oxford’s Michael Davis (Balliol) was denied a debut victory by a last-round rally from Portsmouth’s Joe Munden in their featherweight bout. Tom Williams had the upper hand in the early stages, but Kent University rival David Collum rallied strongly to take their light middleweight bout.

In the same weight category, Ben Bussman went down on points to University College London rival Ralph Pickering. A public warning from referee Paul Rosendale for persistent pushing proved decisive for cruiserweight Max Lack, with the two-point penalty giving the nod to Kent University rival Alex Scarboro.

Also emerging on the wrong end of the verdict was his brother, Simon, who found himself unable to match the firepower of Leicester Fountain’s Mohammed Khan.

The southpaw imposed a standing count before the corner threw in the towel.