WALTHAM Forest ABC had banging end to the year with two wins from three at the London NE Division Show at the weekend.
The event was held at the club’s fabulous facility at the E4 Health and Fitness Club in Highams Park and catching the eye was Joe Payne, who gained revenge on Kemsing ABC’s John Dove.
The more experience Dove had already secured the scalp of the 16-year-old Forest puncher, but Payne, who came into the contest in cracking shape showed his recent improvement in the ring.
Boxing on the front foot throughout, Payne landed some stinging blows including a couple of big right-hands that left Dove facing standing-counts in the first and third rounds. This gave the judges the easy decision of handing Payne a unanimous victory.
Also showing hard-work pays off, was Forest’s Juwayn Keane, who secured a split decision against Dale Youth’s Aryan Bakkshaad.
In a close contest both boxers gave it their all in the opening two rounds, but Keane dug deep in the third to just about edge a very evenly matched bout.
Forest’s Harrison Burchell was unlucky not to make it a hat-trick of victories, when he saw a split decision going in the way of Strike 06’s Sahill Butt.
Reflecting on event’s coach Ken Oram said: “I was delighted with Joe’s performance, he has been working very hard to improve and he showed that by beating a lad he had previously lost to.
“Juwayn also put on a good performance in only his second bout, and Harrison was unlucky against a taller opponent.”