NORTH-East’s female boxers enjoyed a night to remember at the GB Boxing Championships in Sheffield.
Reigning lightweight champion Hannah Robinson defended her 60 kilos title by beating old foe, Kirsty Hill, but Jade Pearce upset the odds by defeating GB boxer Raven Chapman in the featherweight final.
It was an outstanding display from the Middlesbrough girl, the daughter of Wellington ABC legend, John Pearce.
Jade came forward from the opening bell, though it was Raven who scored the better in the opener.
But Pearce set the tempo in the middle session and forced Chapman back, to the delight of her corner and the Teessiders in the big crowd at the English Institute of Sport.
Round three followed a similar pattern, with Pearce growing in confidence and authority, not giving Chapman a moment’s peace, scoring with regularity.
A close result? Maybe, but a 3-2 margin was the least she deserved for the way she performed in the Steel City where she is a university student. Jade and a proud John are pictured above.
Robinson won by the same margin in her ‘re-match’ with Hill, though your punch-lines reporter judged her a clearer winner at the English Institute of Sport.
The Birtley ABC star had a little something to prove, given she had suffered a narrow defeat to the Cleethorpes Trinity boxer in the last four of the National Amateur Championships at the Hadden Hadden Sports Village, while also looking to emphasise her place in the GB pecking order ahead of going full-time on the programme in 2020.
It was a skilled performance from Hannah, who boxed and moved well, using both gloves to score with accurate combinations.
Hill, who has made boxing Tyne, Tees & Wear boxers something of a speciality this year, landed some single shots but Robinson looked well in charge after two rounds.
Encouraged by the great Amanda Coulson in the blue corner, Hill upped her game in the third and enjoyed the better of the final three minutes.
When MC Phil Seymour uttered the words “split decision’” Hannah’s heart must have been in her mouth, but she was soon celebrating a 3-2 success.
“I changed my tactics for this bout,” Robinson told punch-lines. “I wanted to box and moved with clean shots and thought it paid off. “I was pleased with my performance.”
Words: Roy Kelly
