This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

James Woolnough shows his excitement at getting a positive verdict at last summer’s open show at Beau Sejour. Like his late grandfather he welcomes the chance to box for a CI title. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0540722)

GUERNSEY’S top boxers have given the thumbs up to a possible return to the golden days of CI championship belts across the weights and ‘Muratti-like’ inter-island shows.

Next month’s open show at Beau Sejour will, Amalgamated BC head coach Graham Guilbert said, have a strong inter-insular feel with as many as 10 bouts pitting top Guernsey or Alderney fighters against matched opposition from Jersey’s two clubs, Leonis and Pisces.

Guilbert and his leading fighters can barely wait, although star-man Matt Jennings is one who won’t be matched against a Jerseyman.

The sister isle simply don’t have anyone to take on the hard-punching heavyweight.

Guilbert welcomed a return to the days of Channel Islands championship boxing.

‘After 50-odd years it’s going to happen. There’s going to be a good bit of banter between Guernsey and Jersey.

‘Our boys are well up for it.’

Upwards of 15 bouts are planned for the Beau Sejour event on 21 February and Guilbert is hopeful of eight to 10 purely CI bouts with Jennings and Latvian Bruno Bigelis heading the supporting contests.

‘It would be nice to have a Muratti flavour,’ said Guilbert, adding: ‘It’s a shame they [Jersey] haven’t got anyone for Jennings.’

The cross-island bouts signal the start of a new era of cooperation between the boxing fraternities in the two main islands.

‘It will be like a CI Championship again,’ said Guilbert, who expects Sarnian lads to once again support Jersey shows.

‘Dave Thompson [head of Leonis] rang me last year and sent me a list of boys he had. Realistically, then we could only match four or five.

‘But with the Alderney lads on board, it should work out.’

Guilbert said that while he will have to look to London for opposition for Jennings and Bigelis, other top names can be matched in the sister isle.

Tom Duff will be matched, as will talented junior Bradley Watson and the exciting James Woolnough.

Guilbert does not rule out the possibility of Woolnough fighting Jersey’s leading talent, Ben Murray.

‘It all depends on the weights’ said Guilbert.

Jennings, Woolnough and Duff all support the venture and say it can only add to the increasing interest in boxing.

‘I think it’s a brilliant idea,’ said Jennings.

‘It will be great to create that Muratti rivalry. It will be brilliant. There will be a great atmosphere at the shows.’

Light-welterweight Woolnough already has a personal incentive to be recognised as the area’s best at his weight.

‘My grandfather [Jim Enticott] boxed for Channel Island titles and he won it. It would be good to win it again for the family,’ he said.

The prospect of a contest with the highly-rated Murray does not faze Woolnough.

‘I’m not fussed. I’ll fight anyone. He [Murray] is around my weight and I’d be up for fighting him for sure.’

More than anyone at the Amalgamated’s St Martin’s HQ, former footballer Duff best knows that Muratti feeling, having played in one, at Springfield in 2004.

‘It’s a good idea, but trying to get even matches will be difficult.’

He thinks it will be good for the image of the sport.

‘If they start it now it might increase the popularity and more people might want to take the sport up.’

Article posted on 6th January, 2009 - 2.30pm