Berinsfield’s Edward Reilly is through to the last eight of this year’s National Schoolboy championships.
A solid and determined performance gained him victory over highly-fancied London champion Francis Newham in the Class 3 featherweight clash at Bexleyheath.
‘Jordan’ – as he prefers to be known – boxed to orders and applied relentless pressure from the bell, leaving his taller Lynn ABC rival scant room to manoeuvre.
Reilly’s more precise punching became even more evident during the final round as Newham became more and more frustrated and resorted to holding.
His actions meant that he was lucky to escape getting a public warning.
The Berinsfield teenager emerged a clear points winner and now faces Brentwood’s Charlie Lewis at Norwich tomorrow. Oxford Boxing Academy’s Declan Townsend withdrew after struggling with both ‘flu and a stomach problem in the 48 hours leading up to the tournament.
Chief coach Faz Keyani said: “Declan was keen to box, but in his condition I did not even let him go through the check by the doctor.
“He would not have done himself justice in the ring in that condition.”
The day also marked the end of the title trail for the Bicester-based Rourke brothers.
George was outpointed by West Ham’s Joe Walder in their Class 1 40 kg clash and Peter, who was scheduled to meet former Berinsfield boxer Jordan Flynn, withdrew without lacing a glove.
Oxford Boxing Academy duo Ben Kaluza and George Stevens were in simply devastating form at Trowbridge as the Home Counties defeated their West Country hosts 5-3.
Stevens was too powerful for Wells rival Lee Lynam, prompting the referee to halt the one-way traffic early in the second round.
Kaluza tore apart Broad Plain rival Nathan Cummings-Snow from the bell, heralding an early arrival of the towel to save the Bristolian from further punishment inside a round.
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