Whitehaven boxers return from international event with medal haul

The boxcup, just outside Copenhagen, is a multi-nation two-day boxing event with 11 different nationals and some seasoned internationals competing.

Eight boxers from the Whitehaven stable entered the event and the club returned with two gold and two silvers after some outstanding bouts.

Club coach Tim Savage said: "We would have taken two golds and two silvers over the weekend no doubt.

"The opposition that some of our lads had to overcome was phenomenal.

"This is Olympic style boxing, we took on some of the best kids in Europe.

"The lads have done Whitehaven proud and the positive feedback from other coaches making compliments puts us well and truly on the map."

Sean Morgan was the first Whitehaven boxer to enter the ring on day one against Nicolic from Sweden.

Morgan set the early pace, had his man on the back foot and was looking busy, and so caught the eyes of the judges to take the round.

Nicolic came on strong in the second to make it one apiece. But Morgan resumed control in the last, his superior fitness and boxing ability being good enough to take the round.

So the Whitehaven coaches were shocked when he dropped a split decision.

The experienced Jacob Carton was matched in a very tough category. He faced the German number two Michael Zimmoman.

This proved to be Carton's finest performance. He found his range very early, working well behind the double jab and landing powerful backhands over the top.

Carton went through the gears again in the second and was well in control. Zimmoman tried to get back into it the third session but it was Carton who took a unanimous decision.

Daniel Peters faced tough Dane Hadi Hallim, from the great Mickel Kessler CIK boxing club.

Peters kept it simple against the flashier Hallim, working the single shots, scoring and getting out of range.

And he was rewarded with a clear points win and joined Carton in day two with a chance of a gold medal.

Two boxers who weren’t so fortunate to make it through to the next round were Paddy Hood and Jonathan McGuirk.

Both went out in the semi-finals, fighting in higher weight categories, McGuirk to Dane Marco Bali and Hood to another Dane Law Oslen.

Candidate for bout of the whole tournament was Cameron Bagley versus the three times Norwegian champion Adrian Haug.

This was a barnstormer as Bagley and Haug went for it from the first bell, exchanging power shots.

Haug found the target first with a cracking body shot which took the wind out of the Haven boxer. But Bagley fought straight back, landing powerful combinations.

Both boxers had the upper hand at times but it was Haug who eventually took the decision.

The 'Assassin' Sam Casson had a tough opponent in Mads Lauridson from BK Rollo. The Dane didn’t take a backward step but Casson was in fine form.

He controlled the action from the centre of the ring and when the Dane made his move he pivoted off and landed some wonderful combinations.

Casson worked the angles well, and was having fun come the end of the second.

The UTC student was always one step ahead and recorded a clear points win and with it was crowned Hillerod Boxcup Champion 2017.

Proud coach Barry Acton said: "He was a class act, a class performance against a very capable performer, very strong and aggressive.

"But Sam’s boxing ability shone through and he boxed brilliantly. He knows now with his record, only one defeat in 11, he isn’t going to get no pushovers, so always has to be on his A game.

"And he certainly was today and bagged a gold medal."

Next to bag a gold medal was Callum Basso. The heavyweight was matched against unbeaten Norwegian prospect Hans Hanson.

Basso worked well behind the jab and with the last shot of the first round he landed a sweet right hand with only the bell saving the Norwegian.

Basso pressed the fight even more in the second looking for the stoppage but his opponents countered.

However, the third proved vital as a barrage had Hanson is big trouble and the referee stopped the contest with the UTC student taking the gold medal home to Whitehaven.

Coach Tim Savage said: "It was a very evenly match contest, Callum proved he takes a shot, can also deliver a shot as well. Spoiled his work at times but when he gets going and gets that bit between his teeth he’s hard to stop."

Into day two and Jacob Carton showed his pedigree once more. Up against the Norwegian number one in Mickel Gedminas, who is also highly regarded throughout Europe, Carton again put on a quality display.

But the Norwegian had a very good last round as he found his range to clinch the gold medal with Carton going home with a silver.

Savage said: "The first two rounds there was absolutely nothing in them, it could have went either way.

"Gedminas certainly got the last round, not complaining about the result; it was fair but very close.

"Jacob is another who should be fighting at a lighter weight. But he’s been fantastic this weekend."

Daniel Peters was up against another awkward Belgian Karim Sabordi in his final and it was another chess-like affair.

The judges had it one apiece going into the last session and a big last push from the Belgian was enough to give him the gold and Peters silver.

Acton added: "We wanted just a little bit more but very happy with how he has performed this weekend. A quality lad, heart of gold and always eager to learn and give it his all. Very proud coach."