TWELVE fantastic bouts, a large and appreciative crowd and a stoppage win for local favourite Barry Holmes made for a great night of amateur boxing at Cadishead Recreation Centre on Friday.

Boxers from across the north of England, including Hull, Sheffield, Middleton, Birkenhead and Manchester, knuckled down to business at the Irlam Amateur Boxing Club show.

But it was the four Irlam fighters in action who sparked the greatest responses from the packed house.

Holmes, who boasts an all action go-forward style, secured a second round stoppage of Hull’s Adam Bolki in the 83 kilograms category following a relentless onslaught.

And Holmes’ junior clubmate Jack Byrne dominated his bout and won an unanimous points decision in the 34 kilograms class.

But Byrne’s fellow 13-year-old St Patrick’s High School pupil Callum Higham suffered a points defeat after starting slowly before bossing the final round.

And sixteen-year-old Grace Lovall, who is a former Irlam and Cadishead Community High School pupil, also lost on points. She looked the more accomplished boxer but her opponent threw more punches.

Irlam ABC trainer Gary Booth said: "The whole night was a huge success and I would personally like to thank everyone who helped and attended on the night, including sponsors P and N Breaker Hire from Salford.

"As a trainer, I was particularly pleased with how Barry Holmes boxed.

"If I had opened this gym 10 years ago and had Barry in training there is no doubt in my mind that he would have become an ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) champion.

"He has tremendous courage and plenty of skill and just loves to get into the ring and blast it out."

Proceeds from the event will be used to buy new equipment for the Irlam club, which is based above the Co-op in Liverpool Road, Irlam, and is always on the lookout for new sponsors, coaches and anyone who is willing to help out with the running of the club in general terms.

For more information contact Gary on: 07775 777007.

Meanwhile, any boxers wishing to join the club should go along to training sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. The juniors train between 6pm and 7pm and the seniors train between 7pm and 8pm.