Charity boxing show is a heavyweight thriller

On a busy night of semi-pro/exhibition boxing, hosted by Roger Brotherhood of Mansfield’s Body and Soul gym, Aaron Langan, one of 10 boxers representing the gym on the night, clashed with rival Dean Brook of Wigan in a fiery top-of-the-bill encounter.

Both boxers, who had exchanged harsh words in the build-up, clattered ferocious punches on each other for four bruising, bloody rounds which eventually saw Aaron, listed as the British champion, keep his title after the three judges scoring ringside gave the verdict as a draw.

In the other night’s action, Body and Soul heavyweight Dom Allcock overwhelmed Danny Payne from Wigan and stopped him midway through the second round.

A cracking toe-to-toe battle between Graeme Carmichael and Liam Cockayne saw both boxers wobble on their feet as they went for the knockout. Liam fell to the canvas in the closing seconds and this proved to be the difference as Graeme won by one point.

Body and Soul’s Ian Clarke, boxing in memory of his late mother, dominated against Wigan’s Carl Sweeney. Ian fired in accurate punches and won every round.

Danny Goodwin put Dinnington’s gutsy Ash Sabin down twice en-route to a third round stoppage victory, Henry Rooney edged-out Les Wade of Fighting Fit in three entertaining rounds and Wes Dolan beat Dean Ragan after Dean retired with injury after the second.

Dean Taylor drew with Team Block’s Jack Mcormack in an exhibition bout and Kev James and Aaron Brailsford boxed two rounds each against cruiserweight champion Darren Snow, then boxed each other for a round! Kev and Aaron’s round together was much closer, as ‘Snowy’ proved unbeatable.

The dinner show helped raise money for Patches Heart Group. Leanne Evangelou, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, is trekking the Great Wall of China in April to raise money for the charity who help raise awareness and support for families of children with congenital heart defects. Leanne is almost at her target amount and can be sponsored at www.gofundme.com/wallofchinawalkforchd.