REDDITCH Boxing Academy (RBA) fighters Ben Earles and Patrick Rolinson have continued their progress with further excellent performances.
After an outstanding display at the end of November, Earles was back in action against Tommy Jones (Lions ABC) at the Lions’ home show at Wilson Hall in Halesowen.
Earles demonstrated excellent skill and determination throughout three rounds of boxing and kept his opponent wondering what was coming next.
After three hard-fought rounds and a great performance form Earles, he was ruled to have lost on points to the home fighter – a decision which split the crowd in half and surprised the Redditch coaches.
Earles, with an athlete’s mentality to keep on moving forward, joined RBA team-mate Rolinson for a skills bout at the Sheldon Ivy Leaf Social Club on Saturday and both fighters – under the guidance of RBA assistant coach Recce Hudson – weighed in at 54kg and 51kg respectively.
Matched against appropriate, experienced opposition, both boxers shone above their opponents – being told to reduce their power or workrate. Skills bouts are for junior boxers to be evenly matched, with no winner decided.
The intent is for fighters to practise their trade (during their formative period) without the pressure of winning or losing. Bouts are controlled by the referee, who will impose conditions, ensuring both boxers see it to the end.
On this occasion, Earles easily controlled his opponent around the ring, scoring body shots and head shots almost at will. By midway through the second round, Earles was instructed to stop throwing power shots (for fear of stopping his opponent).
With no winner decided, Earles left the ring, in true fashion asking RBA coach Hudson to have him matched again before Christmas.
Returning to the ring only a couple of weeks since his last bout, ‘Rocky’ Rolinson also took part in a skills bout. In similar fashion to Earles, conditions were set on Rolinson early on to avoid him outclassing his opponent.
Such was the case, Rolinson switched from his usual orthodox stance to fighting the last two rounds as a southpaw.
Both RBA boxers were congratulated by Hudson who commented on their performances being testimony to the emphasis placed on mastering pugilistic skills as part of the RBA development programme, rather than ‘just going in to fight’.
RBA have added to their qualified coaching staff by putting former national champion and Scottish international boxer Gordon Seal through his level one coaching course.
With experienced amateur Dan Lukeman, level two personal trainer Gillian Dipple, self-defence expert Pete Martin and kids coach Iain Lines all undertaking coaching courses in the new year, the academy is going from strength the strength which is being demonstrated by the quality of the boxers being produced.
Anyone interested in competing or being mentored through a coaching role should contact head coach Sarah Lee on 07541 133844 for further details.
