Boxing: Barry boxer survives a late Riva onslaught

Mar 5 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

WELSH international and junior WABA champion Richard Canning (Barry Eastend) looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory going into the final stanza in the top of the bill contest with Simon Riva (Cardiff YMCA), writes Malcolm Collins.

Canning, out to impress on his club tournament at the Llantwit Major Leisure Centre, boxed cleverly behind long leads in the opening rounds.

He built a comfortable computer score before walking onto a short right to the head in the fourth.

Referee Tony Wynne moved in quickly with a mandatory eight count for the Barry boxer.

Riva, sensing he could win via the short route, piled in forcing Canning back.

But young Canning had done enough in the opening rounds to take the majority verdict.

Austin Thomas (Barry Eastend) forced standing counts in the first and third rounds on Patrick Stokes (Splott Adventure) before taking a wide unanimous points verdict.

Kieron O’Connor a 15-year-old from Ferndale, and Luke Howells (Rhoose) provided three rounds of non-stop action. O’Connor took a close points verdict.

Highfields puncher Luke George proved too strong for Barry Eastend’s Joshua Petre, forcing two standing eight counts in the opening round before international EABA referee Don Owen called a halt.

Lewis Hughes (Barry Eastend) was another boxer in a hurry halting Sam Hooper (Highfields) in the opener.

Hooper took two standing counts from solid combinations to the head before referee Owen called a halt.

Results: Schoolsboys: C Hibbard (Barry Eastend) beat R Brown (Garw Valley) unanimous points, A Thomas (Barry Eastend) beat P Stokes (Splott Adventure) unanimous points, RP Roberts (Fairfield) beat C Barron (Gelligaer) unanimous points, J Evans (Maesteg) beat D Edwards (Gelligaer) majority points, T Lee (Llantrisant) beat O Evans (Maesteg) unanimous points, S Thomas (Kyber Colts) beat M Salter (Cardiff YMCA) majority points.

Juniors: L George (Highfields) beat J Petre (Barry Westend) RSC 1st round, K O’Connor (Ferndale) beat L Howells (Rhoose) unanimous points, T Evans (Maesteg) beat R Chappell (Highfields) unanimous points

Seniors: S Hanniford (Maesteg) beat D Phillips (Llantwit Major) unanimous points, L Hughes (Barry Eastend) beat S Hooper (Highfields) RSC 1st round, D Mills (Splott Adventure) beat T Lloyd (Barry Eastend) majority points, G Sherwood (Maesteg) beat M Miah (Cardiff YMCA) unanimous points, R Canning (Barry Eastend) beat S Riva (Cardiff YMCA) majority points.