The courageous performances of tough and talented teenage boxers impressed those attending the second ‘Friday Fight Evening’ of 2023 organised by Mark Holmes and Joe Ford at Hunslet Carr Sports and Social Club on Friday (30 June 2023).
Devin Myers and Wakefield’s Jack Shaw, both seventeen, put on an explosive and exhilarating joint performance contesting the promotion’s 61kg belt over four two-minute rounds with Myers retaining the belt by split decision win. Myers, a roofer, said:
“I loved it. I’m delighted at my win. My best performance yet. I’m so proud of my level of fitness and how aggressively I boxed. My next opponent will definitely face a stoppage.”
Leeds law student and aspiring professional boxer George Middleton,19, trained by Rick Manners, also put on a gutsy performance showing genuine potential talent in his defeat of John Bristol.
“Our shows allow young boxers to prove what they’re made of allowing them to gain valuable experience in the semi-professional ranks” explained Holmes, “and well-known Leeds fighters Scott McHugh and Dean ‘Smudger’ Smith started out here.”
Holmes has a distinguished record as a boxer including bareknuckle and at cruiserweight winning most of over a hundred boxing and Thai boxing matches. A former professional singer, Ford comes from performing arts and has refereed at Leeds boxing events for ten years.
Ford explained that
“Working with TJ Evolve gym in Morley, our promotion stages three or four good quality events annually with younger and older fighters competing in fair, well-matched bouts. There’s a strong community focus, with recent shows raising funds for local families affected by cancer and tonight for the family of local lad Gaz Duce.”
Friday’s show also included a collection for Leeds men’s charity MINT.
“We are grateful that yet again the boxing community has shown such generosity and solidarity” said MINT’s Josh Sturgeon.
Holmes Promotions plans its next event for October.
This post was written by James Bovington
Photos: Julian Hudson
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