Boxing: Amir Khan watches brother at Colwyn Bay

Jun 10 2010

WORLD light-welterweight champion Amir Khan was the special guest at Dyffryn ABC’s latest show – and he had an extra good reason for being there.

Khan’s brother Haroon, who boxes for the Bury club, was competing in Friday’s show at Eirias Park Leisure Centre, Colwyn Bay.

The night proved a massive hit with brilliant skills on display from some of North Wales and the North West’s finest junior and senior boxers.

"Amir Khan was his usual approachable self and was happy to pose for photos and sign autographs which were wanted by seemingly everyone in attendance," said Dyffryn ABC coach Wesley Jones.

And not to disappoint the family, Haroon put in an outstanding display to unanimously beat Akeel Ghani of Holyhead’s Red Dragon, a four-time Welsh champion, who played his part in the evening’s best contest. Haroon also won Best Senior Boxer of the night.

First contest of the evening featured Dyffryn’s 12- year-old Ryan Urquhart using sound boxing skills to beat Llandudno’s aggressive Leon Hender on a majority decision.

Second up was the show’s Best Junior Boxer, 10-year-old Connah Jones, also of Dyffryn, who produced an action-packed display to unanimously outpointed Tommy Young of Bury.

Dyffryn’s Welsh champion Billy Edwards was not at his very best but performed admirably to hold off the extremely determined Nathan Williams of Maes-G on a majority. Tom Jones, 14, of Glan Conwy boxed well and stayed one step ahead of his opponent Josh Middlehurst of Chester to record a majority verdict.

It was an excellent evening for the host Colwyn Bay club as the experienced James Leary beat went to work in what proved a close bout for two rounds. But in the third Leary was all business and dominated the whole round despite constant holding from opponent Jack Whittingham of Runcorn, running out a unanimous points winner.

Last on for Dyffryn was 24-year-old Shaun Punter who lost his welterweight contest on the tightest majority decision to Padraig Sweeney of Bury. In what proved a great tussle Punter’s sharper work was beaten by Sweeney’s workrate.

There were also wins for two Llandudno boxers, Shaun Hughes defeating Joseph Hollins (Hulton) and Joe Kearns overcoming Ajmal Hayat (Bury), both on unanimous calls.

Other results: Tom Barlow (Astley VIP) beat AJ Lewis (Maes-G) unanimous; Kai Johnson (Shotton) beat Ryan Gibbs (Red Dragon) RSC 3rd.