ANOTHER sell-out crowd attended the Leigh ABC Christmas boxing show at Lowton Civic Hall, with the Team Leigh boxers again taking on a top quality north of England squad.

The show began with three very entertaining skills bouts involving Leigh youngsters Paddy Hewitt, Callum Follows and Joe Shinton displaying their technical skills opposite Dinny Kelly of Coastal ABC of Morecambe, Michael Sharrock (Tameside) and Josh Peatfield of Manchester based Northside ABC.

First full bout saw 16-year-old flyweight Josh Andrews losing a close decision to Jake Locke of Crewe ABC, quickly followed by a dazzling debut performance by 11-year-old Kian Flanagan who scored a unanimous points’ win, and the Simpson Heald Pearson junior boxer of the night award, over Stephen Connor of Northside ABC.

In another cracking debut performance, 11-year-old Coan Gildart took a dominant points’ victory over Dean Scott of Northside ABC, while a contender for bout of the night saw 13-year-old Josh Waterworth go down by majority decision to George Frost of Beartown ABC.

Next into the ring was 17-year-old lightweight Adam Ridge, who was having his 50th bout, and he didn't disappoint with a clear points’ victory over experienced senior boxer Eddie Harrison of Blackpool Kingscote ABC.

Adam was also awarded the Collins and Darwell senior boxer of the night award.

The secretary's shield award was given to the very unlucky 14-year-old Jimboy Price who had seemingly won every round against Lewis Marshall of Coastal ABC, only for the judges to inexplicably vote a majority win for the visitor.

Fifteen-year-old Sam Boswell tore into his opponent Andre Vidal of Coastal ABC to record a unanimous points’ win, while 15-year-old Sean Connor was involved in another cracking contest losing a split decision to Macauley Moran of Gorton ABC.

Team Leigh international, 16-year-old Matty Burgess, already the holder of the light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight belts took on the current middleweight belt-holder Charlie Martin of Burnley-based Sandygate ABC, and took a clear points’ victory, though the visitors’ belt wasn't on the line.

Matty was also awarded the Team Leigh boxer of the night award.

The penultimate bout of the evening saw a close and hard-fought points’ victory for 19-year-old light-middleweight Jordan Nicklin over the tough Sean Coxon of Coastal ABC.

Top of the bill was a contest between 18-year-old Michael Connor and the vastly experienced senior, Danny Johnson of Northside ABC.

Michael, in his first senior contest, was quickly onto the attack smashing jabs and powerful right hands onto his opponent, and though Johnson tried to weather the onslaught, a massive left hook from the Leigh boxer forced a standing eight count.

The next two rounds saw Michael back to his best form, unloading with massive body and head shots, the extremely brave Johnson taking another count and literally holding on to the final bell.

A unanimous points’ win and the Tommy Sargeant boxer of the night award given to the talented Connor.