Top Yard Boxing Club fighters reach the quarter-finals of the National Youth Championships
The city’s Top Yard Club have two boxers through to the quarter-finals of the National Youth Championships, although only one of them to fight their way through.
Ismail Arif was supposed to be in action, but his opponent failed to make the U50kg weight which meant the city teenger received a bye.
But clubmate Wazir Durrani did get into the ring against Jamie Milan of Hastings West Hill BC in a battle of East and South champions at 57.5kg in an open class division.
On paper, this was geared up to be a competitive 50/50 bout between two tall and lean southpaw boxers. Milan had competed in almost double the amount of bouts and started off on the front foot, but Durrani stuck to his long single and double jabs, and used his feints, to land clean scoring shots. When Milan tried to get close, the Top Yard lad used his slick footwork to counter punch effectively and he won the first round.
In the second round, Durrani again used his long reach and also started attacking the body, while finishing with head shots which pushed his opponent back into the ropes. He visibly grew in confidence and started landing two-three punch combinations to take the second round.
Going into the final round, Milan came out on the attack and had some success. Both fighters traded blows in a stand-off, but it was Durrani who walked away the happier man after a unanimous points verdict went his way.
Arif and Durrani now go through to the quarter finals against the Western Counties Champions in Bournemouth.