Remel Hamilton picked up the boxer-of-the-night award during St Mary’s ABC’s home show at the Lordswood Leisure Centre.

The club’s first home show of the 2024/25 season saw clubs from around the South East clashing in the ring in front of an expectant crowd.

Home boxer Hamilton pitted his elusive, slick skills against the unrelenting pressure of Guildford ABC’s Tyke Sackett.

A contrast of styles saw the shorter away boxer applying pressure and the rangy Hamilton keeping his distance.

After two close rounds, the St Mary’s fighter pulled away in the third with a classy display of sniping long-range shots. At the final bell, his technical superiority secured a unanimous points decision and the boxer-of-the-night award.

Out of the 13 well-matched bouts, arguably fight-of-the-night was a senior contest between Michael Speller and Royal Fusilier Andrew Radford. Setting a ferocious pace from the opening bell, both boxers engaged in a battle of attrition with each landed blow receiving an immediate response.

In a contest that could have taken place in a phone booth, Speller’s extra quality proved enough to overcome Radford’s raw tenacity, taking a razor-close split-decision win.

Home boxer Michael Shoyemi welcomed local rival Taye Sterling-Williams from Gravesham ABC to close the event.

In a Chatham versus Gravesend showdown, Shoyemi was tasked with unpicking the high IQ defence of Sterling-Williams over the course of three cagey rounds.

With victory riding on the third stanza, spurred on by raucous support, Shoyemi landed a series of clean back hands to the head and body of the retreating Gravesham boxer.

Despite calls of foul play from sections of the away support on hearing the decision, Shoyemi proved good value for his unanimous points win.

On a night of mixed results, the club’s volunteer coaches, organisers and boxers should be proud of staging another tremendous occasion in the Medway sporting calendar. Wins and losses will no doubt provide valuable learning experiences to take forward through the season.

Results: Archie Merwe (Royston ABC) defeated Billy Bowles (St Mary’s), Remel Hamilton (St Mary’s) def Tyke Sackett (Guildford ABC), Raphael Cutts (Royal Resistance) def Joe Luchford (St Mary’s), William O’Rourke (Fishergate) def Oliver Bareham (St Mary’s), Jordan Brown (St Mary’s) def Jack Colley (Aberfeldy ABC), Sonny Studley (Bexhill ABC) def Brendan Andrews (St Mary’s), Finn Harris (Attleborough ABC) def Chazz Butters (St Mary’s), Lewis Musleh (St Mary’s) def John Furber (Royal Fusiliers), Michael Speller (St Mary’s) def Andrew Radford (Royal Fusiliers), Keith Orenuga (Gravesham) def Mike Olatunde (St Mary’s), Will Olloh (St Mary’s) def Kie Chapman (Royal Resistance), Ratu Malaki Leiloma (Royal Fusiliers) def Mason Dedrick (St Mary’s), Michael Shoyemi (St Mary’s) def Taye Sterling-Williams (Gravesham).