BOXING - Varsity Match 2011

Thursday 17 March 2011

The 104th Varsity boxing match was hosted at London’s Troxy with CUABC aiming for a hattrick of varsity victories. The night started with the featherweight bout where Cambridge’s John Lacy rode out an explosive first round. Looking like he was down on the scorecards, a tremendous right hook from Lacy dropped his opponent to the canvas to finish the round. With renewed confidence, the Downing boxer dominated the second round as his Oxford counterpart grew tired. Lacy continued with the same ferocity into the third, where a further knockdown prompted the referee to end the contest for the safety of the Oxford man. A great opening performance to get Cambridge fans on their feet, which also earned John the Boxer of the Night Award.

Next to step through the ropes was Sidney Sussex’s Nim Sukumar in the lightweight category. This incredibly hard fought and intense match saw neither boxer willing to back down. The final few shots landed by Sukumar swayed the judges to a majority decision, giving Cambridge their second win.

Light-welterweight Elliot Chamber’s varsity hopes were ended shortly after the opening bell, before the action had really begun. The Oxford fighter’s wild left hook pole-axed Chambers to hand OUABC their first win.

James Phillips stepped up against the strong Dark Blue Captain at Welterweight, but despite relentless determination and courage was outboxed on this occasion to even the scores.
With quiet confidence, Cambridge fans watched on as Rich Simpson took to the ring. Having over 60 bouts to his name, the Cambridge man was the sure favourite against the Oxford debutant. Although the Light Blue managed to knock his opponent down late in the first round, the gulf in experience was inapparent. As the final two rounds saw Simpson tire, he resorted to ‘dancing-on-ice’ style pirouettes to evade further punishment; meanwhile Oxford’s Light-Middleweight pushed forwards to clinch the bout by a majority decision and put the Dark Blues ahead for the first time.

Having moved up a class to Middleweight, last year’s captain and this year’s Town v Gown “boxer of the night” Chris Webb took to the ring, looking to even the score. This was undoubtedly a tough contest that pushed both fighters to the limits of their skill and endurance. Going in to the third round with little more than a point separating the two, the Queens’ vet student edged ahead to a majority decision by maintaining his accuracy, fitness and nimble footwork to the final bell – qualities that we have come to expect from this triple blue.
Next to fight out of the Light Blue corner was Captain Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka, raring to go having had all of his warm-up bouts cancelled this term. The Queens’ PhD student came out like a man possessed, systematically cutting down the ring to immediately force his opponent on the back foot. Avoiding Kiwanuka’s barrage of heavy shots with slick footwork and a rangy jab, the former Oxford football Blue answered back with a well drilled counter punching style. By leaving the Cambridge skipper to do all the leg work, the Dark Blue remained fresh to take this close match by a majority decision. Kiwanuka looked game for another fight, but this time with the MC who spectacularly mis-pronounced his name with his best “tribal sounding” noises…again.

Light Heavyweight Chris Kelly walked out with an incredible weight on his shoulders, firstly with the knowledge that Cambridge would lose the Truelove bowl if he didn’t win and secondly for the tough contest ahead. Oxford’s returning Blue was looking for one thing as the bell rang – a knockout. Kelly was hunted down with monstrous shots that soon penetrated his tight guard, forcing a referee stoppage after the second knockdown.
With the Oxford crowd high on blood, and their victory secured, Heavyweight John Walker strolled out to restore the pride of CUABC. Although giving a good account of himself throughout the first round and something for the Light Blue fans to cheer about, his chin was open to a crushing right-left combination that brought the Varsity campaign to an abrupt end.
A convincing 6-3 win for the strong Oxford team, but defeat for the Light Blues will only serve to spur them on in training for next year’s 105th Varsity Match in Oxford.

CUABC would like to take this opportunity to thank Col Pollington and his staff for all the support we have received this year in preparation for the Varsity Match.
If you would like to try your hand at boxing or have boxed before we would encourage you to find us at next years Fresher’s fair, or contact the President, Chris Webb (cw379).