KNOCKOUT SUCCESSES FOR LOCHABER PHOENIX BOXING CLUB

from Lochaber Life #354 April 2023

Caring for Loved One’s Place of Rest

Iain Ferguson

Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club added another championship award to their long list, when 14-year-old Connor Bodkin won the Scottish Golden Gloves competition held over two weekends at the Ravenscraig Arena in Hamilton.

In his semi final bout Connor came up against British Champion Kian Tennant from Inch Boxing Club in Aberdeen, where his performance was so powerful that the referee stopped the match in the second round.

The final was held at the same venue the following weekend where he faced Finlay Smith from Glasgow Boxing Academy with Connor giving away over 10 kg to his opponent.

Round 1Connor and Finlay both started fast but Connor’s fitness and straight shots started to take over, giving him the round. Round 2 saw the same start again but with Connor starting to dominate at his pace also recording a convincing win. In

Round 3 Connor boxed to instruction from his corner with excellent jabs with one-two combinations and in and out boxing finished with a unanimous 5-0 points victory to be the new 2023, 80kg + Golden Glove Champion. Club coaches were particularly delighted at Connor’s performance as Connor has been with the club for under three years, travelling down from Invergarry with his 16-year-old brother Anton, three nights a week, both showing tremendous dedication and commitment to training and the sport.

The club reached another major milestone when Emma Lauder received her qualification to become the first ever female boxing coach in Lochaber. Emma has been a full time active member of the club for over six years, in that time picking up coaching skills working with the junior section.

She successfully took part in courses run by Boxing Scotland, the official body of amateur boxing in Scotland, gaining the qualifications needed to become a fully recognised coach. She passed all with flying colours but, as with many things delays due to Covid, the long catch-up process has meant that the official certificate she earned a few years ago has just caught up with her.