Electrifying night of international amateur boxing in city
OXFORD Stadium played host to an electrifying night of amateur boxing as Blackbird Leys ABC Select took on visiting fighters from Boxing Club Bologna in a hard-fought international event, writes Jack Hill.
Josh Lyndon (Windrush Valley ABC), competing at 54kg, opened the team match with a high-paced performance. His superior work rate earned him a clear win over Nicola Grisolia of Bologna, setting the tone for the night.
Blackbird Leys' Brandon May made an impressive debut over 3x3-minute rounds, edging a close 3-2 split decision over the relentless Tommaso Rossi. The bout was a back and forth affair, but May's composure under pressure proved decisive.
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In the middleweight division, Jamal Franklin (Blackbird Leys) outboxed Manfredi Piscicelli with a unanimous decision victory. Franklin's long, straight shots kept the tricky Italian at bay, preventing him from settling into any rhythm.
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Daniel Munoz of Oxford ABC Cowley put in a strong performance, but narrowly lost out to Bologna's Edoardo Cavalieri by split decision. Cavalieri's higher output swayed the judges in a closely contested match.
The headline bout between Blackbird Leys' Rio Coates and Italy's Federico Palmieri was nothing short of a war. Both boxers traded heavy shots in a back and forth battle that brought the crowd to life. In the end, it was Palmieri's experience that earned him a narrow 3-2 split decision victory in what was a fitting finale to a memorable night of international boxing.
The final score came to 4-3 in favour of Blackbird Leys ABC Select. A return is scheduled for November in Bologna.
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