Guernsey’s four Western Counties representatives in Weston-Super-Mare: from left – Bradley Watson, Callum Pearson, Matt Jennings and Gage Demore. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0751009)
FOUR Guernsey boxers have the chance to be crowned Western Counties area champions this weekend.
In terms of numbers the Amalgamated Boys Club have never been better represented at the ‘westerns’ where Matt Jennings (pictured), Callum Pearson, Bradley Watson and Gage Demore fight in Weston-Super-Mare tomorrow evening.
‘It’s superb for us,’ said the club’s head coach Graham Guilbert, who is going over with his boxers.
‘Everything is going really well.’
Cruiserweight Jennings, 32, is the reigning Western Counties champion after he received a bye in the championships last year.
He went on to make the quarter-finals of the nationals before a bloody nose saw him lose out to Ricky Leyland of the Peacock Club, London.
This year, the island’s premier boxer is taking on the Army’s Greg Welling for the area title.
Pearson faces David Dungay for the light-heavyweight crown.
Dungay fights out of Devonport, while Watson meets Aaron Seldon of Exeter for the flyweight belt.
All three made the senior finals without donning their gloves, while Demore had to come through a preliminary round to make the junior finals.
The wiry Demore, who is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the Bailiwick, turned in an excellent performance in the 39kg weight class to overcome Jack Stevens at Synwell, last month.
‘Gage boxed beautifully and he boxed him out of the park,’ said Guilbert.
‘He had a strong boy there and he out boxed him.
He is now facing Fion O’Meara in the finals.
If the Sarnians are successful they will go through to the national competition, which is being held at Sheffield in the next few weeks.
‘They’ve all got a chance of winning a regional or national title, which is great for Guernsey boxing,’ said Guilbert.
‘They need a bit of luck, but they’ve done their work.’
Article posted on 3rd April, 2009 - 2.30pm
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