HALSTEAD Amateur Boxing Club head coach George Cook praised two boxers at the opposite ends of the age spectrum after their performances on their open Boxing Show at Earls Colne Recreation Club.

Twelve-year-old Luke Smee won his second career bout in a row by beating Liam Evans from Sandwich in Kent, while senior welter-weight Joshua Legrove showcased his talents by beating Islington's Islam Ljabjani in a unanimous points win.

Cook said it was a win that showed Legrove was a star of the future.

The Halstead coach said: "Joshua will go far in his chosen sport, as he has tremendous talent and technical skills."

Meanwhile, Halstead juniors Mitch Lawson, Finley Marven, Harvey Butters, Matthew Swanson all showed much improvement in their performances in this show, but ultimately just missed out on close points decisions.

In his second skills bout in a week, Jay McInnes put in an impressive performance against Trumpington's Adrian Polis, posting three good lively rounds of controlled skilful boxing.

Senior Jay Snaith made a comeback back to the ring after a two-year lay-off and gave a great performance against Jurrel Da Costa of White Hart Lane ABC.

Both men went through with salvos of punches to head and body, with each dominating the action throughout this exciting bout, but it was Da Costa who registered the points win.

The final bout of the night was between two very tough young heavyweights - Halstead's Joe Bonito and Callum Sandy from Hornets ABC.

This proved to be the best bout of the night, with Bonito giving his usual 100 per cent effort and delighting the partisan crowd as his fleet footwork and accurate shots saw him take the first round.

However, Sandy's awkward style saw him have his own moments as he scored well with accurate and eye-catching shots to end a very lively second round.

Both men came out with each in turn pushing each other back with high volumes of punches in this thrilling contest but it was Sandy who took the verdict on a unanimous points decision.

It was adjudged the best bout of the night and both boxers were awarded a special prize.

RESULTS: Schoolboy and junior Skills: Alfie Banyard v Jackson Herron, Jay McInnes v Adrian Polis, Liam Belon v Jack Lovesly.

Junior bouts: B Brewer won pts K Basi, L Smee won pts L Evans, I Dickson lost pts T Petchel, F Marven lost pts U Kharn, T Bolingroke lost pts J Farrow, E McDoragh won pts R Ghanizoda, S Smith lost pts J Hall, M Swanson lost pts S Fletcher, H Butters lost stopped first round J Grossen, H Robins won pts D Krasouskts, M Lawson lost pts J Basil, D Pargado won pts J King.

Senior Bouts: J Legrove won pts I Llabjani, J Snaith lost pts J Da Costa, R Lazenby lost pts A Dasscaly, J Bonito lost pts C Sandy.

Cook added: "Our show was voted one of the best open shows of the season so far, with all 19 bouts being of tremendous quality and each Halstead boxer being proud to wear the black and red of their club.

"As much as I head up the coaching staff I am very well supported by senior coaces Paul Turner, Richard Harrington-Groves, Charlie Lawson and junior coaches Caroline Searles, John Webb, John Swanson and Chris Raven.

"Without them and all our working members we would not be able to put on such an excellent show of quality boxing."