Three young Malmesbury boxers enjoy successful outings (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Three young Malmesbury boxers enjoy successful outings

MALMESBURY boxers recorded three victories when they travelled to Bristol last Friday and the Forest of Dean on Monday.

Western Counties Champion and National semi-finalist Luke Stevens set the ball rolling at the Downend show when he met Bracknell's Steve Masters.

This was one of Stevens' best performances of the season as his speed of punch and movement kept him in the ascendancy throughout the fight.

Masters pressed forward but was met with clusters of punches as he tried to cut Stevens off against the ropes.

A rasping one-two combination rocked the Bracknell boy back on his heels in the middle round and cemented the unanimous points win.

Luke's younger brother Clint was next into action against Cleeve's Matthew Burke, who put up a spirited fight against a visibly stronger opponent.

Showing a new and welcome coolness, Stevens went about his work behind a solid jab and mixed up right hands and left hooks to take the first round decisively.

A barrage of punches in the second brought a standing count and an early finish looked on the cards.

Stevens, however, faded badly in the final session and was unable to capitalise and Burke survived to hear the final bell.

Although Stevens received the vote of all three judges, he will have to step up his training schedule to meet the new challenges as he steps up in class.

At Monday's Lydney show, Dan Williamson punched out a repeat win over the host club's Joe Wilcox who tried gallantly to stay on terms in the face of the Malmesbury schoolboy's variety of punches.

Williamson mixed up his punches well to head and body and his excellent performance was only marred by ducking too low on occasion which incurred the referee's displeasure.

But nothing was going to deny the determined Williamson from notching up his fourth straight win by unanimous vote.