PICTURES: Highland Boxing Academy trio victorious at Inverness British Legion show
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Highland Boxing Academy ran their latest club show at the British Legion last Saturday night, with three of their athletes having their hands raised in victory.
Opening up the evening was Maria Cameron, who secured a unanimous win over Alloa’s Eve Hynd.
It was a competitive bout straight from the off, trading blows in what looked like an evenly matched contest, before Cameron was able to perfectly time a series of powerful shots.
They caught the eye of both the audience and the judges, who awarded the bout to Cameron by unanimous decision at the end of the three one-minute rounds.
HBA head coach Liam Foy called it one of the best opening bouts on a home show that he could remember, and youngster Cameron was rewarded for her efforts by being given the DJ Macphee award for the best home boxer of the night – presented by newly-minted Scottish Welterweight Champion Ben Bartlett.
The host club’s next winner was Rio Peden, who was also up against an Alloa boxer in Leo Hutchison for a three two-minute round bout.
Peden was coming into the contest high on confidence after winning at the Development Championships earlier this season.
That gave him momentum despite an experience disadvantage, and Peden made sure not to disappoint his legion of supporters with a punch-perfect performance to win by unanimous decision.
HBA’s final victor of the night was Brodie Zineldin, who had already exchanged wins with opponent, Elgin’s Marcus McEwan, this year.
McEwan won the Golden Gloves title earlier this year, and had beaten Zineldin in Inverness at one of Highland Boxing Academy’s other home shows.
Zineldin got his revenge in Elgin just one week before completing the trifecta, though, triumphing in a close decision.
Back in the Highland capital, then, Zineldin was determined to win the rubber match, and duly delivered by unanimous decision thanks to his power, precision and variation of attack.
Six more of the club’s boxers were in action on the night in exhibition bouts, while Aidan McKinlay, Robert Stewart and Cole Fraser each lost competitive bouts.
There was also a neutral contest, as Cain’s Findlay Milne and Aberdeen University’s Jasper Mitchell faced off for the novice 67kg Northern District Championship.
In that one, Milne was victorious by unanimous decision to get his hands on the title.
