Coach Boyle delighted with Worksop's Xbox fighters

Xbox fighters won half of the bouts that were staged at the academy’s home venue, they Stanley Street Sports and Social Club, and Boyle felt this proved how well they are progressing.

“To take seven wins from 14 bouts against really good opposition is a fantastic return for our squad,” he said.

“The club’s style of boxing was very evident on the night, and that’s the most impressive thing at the moment for the Xbox Academy.”

Home fighters, from the age of ten to experienced adults, were on the bill, along with opponents from clubs as local as Newark and as far afield as Manchester and Sussex.

Opening the show was Boyle’s own daughter and local champion, Lexie Boyle, who polished her tools well against a game opponent from Crowle Amateur Boxing Club near Doncaster. The fight, in the 30kg weight category, was a skills contest that entertained everyone in the crowd.

One of the highlights of the night for the Worksop-based academy was a win for their ever-impressive England international star Hollie Towl.

The tall and rangy Eleanor Coulson was also impressive in gaining revenge, at 72kg, for one of only two losses from eight bouts so far against a challenger from Hull.

Leon Smith proved too elusive and too sharp for his opponent, winning on a unanimous decision, while club captain, and England number two, Nicola Hopewell was also triumphant, despite having to move up in weight.

Little battler Kian Bak won well too, along with super-heavyweight Ben Brammer, who rounded off the list of successes for the Xbox club.

Also representing the academy were Andrew Coulson and Theo Weaver, who continued their progress, along with Zac Layne, Josh Hartley, Kyle Finch, Clifford Jackson and joint club captain Rowan Gregory. All suffered defeats unfortunately, but all left it in the ring with some battling performances.

Before the show, Xbox had already enjoyed plenty of terrific success this season, with Leon Smith becoming the East Midlands youth welterweight champion.

Thomas Whitehurst, Hollie Towl, Rowan Gregory and Eleanor Coulson have also been crowned champions of the East Midlands region and move on to the national stages of their respective competitions.

Since the show, Rowan Gregory has won on the road at Derby, while Eleanor Coulson and Hollie Towl have moved into the quarter-finals of their national championships after winning their regional rounds. These quarter-finals are to be held on Saturday, March 17 when they will hope to be supported by a strong and enthusiastic following of fans from the Worksop academy.