Islington Boxing Club, having entered a total of eight boxers in the 2011 Haringey Box Cup, finished the tournament with 3 gold medals, 4 silver medals and were desperately unlucky to not take the trophy for ‘best team’ held at Alexandra Palace over four days (16th – 19th June inclusive).More than 200 bouts took place in what is now the largest open boxing tournament in Europe.

IBC’s female welterweight Sara Knieper was the first to take gold in the class A, under 67Kgs female category, which was held on Saturday. Knieper up against Gardner Moore (St Andrews university), landed virtually all of the scoring punches, in what was a untidy affair, as Moore constantly tried to unsettle the more polished Knieper with some unorthodox tactics. Knieper however, showed plenty of grit to grind out a unanamous decision.

Sara Knieper in action, Sara once again won gold at the Haringey Box Cup with the IBC

IBC’s rising star Jordan Grannum (Male, Senior Class B U67Kgs), won gold in a outstanding final against tough Alae Alasadi (Stockholm City team). The bell had barely rung to start the bout, when a vicious right hand from Grannum dumped Alasadi on the seat of his pants. Alasadi did well to beat the count and last the round. The second round went to the Stockholm boxer as he dragged Grannum into a war. But in the last round, Grannum was not to be denied as he put on a boxing masterclass to edge out Alasadi, by a majority decision on the judges scord cards.Grannum had reached the final by defeating Paul O’Conner of the Sefton boxing club, by unanamous decision in the semi-finals.

Jordan Grannum in action, Jordan once again won gold at the Haringey Box Cup

Islington’s club captain Aarron Morgan (Male Senior B class U75Kgs) had to box 3 times and deservedly took the gold. In the final, Morgan was up against nemesis Andre Stirling (Fitroy Lodge). Morgan bright and  full of confidence was landed with straight jabs at will. Stirling, did not seem to be able to cope with Morgan’s sharper punches, straight righ hands constantly catching Stirling off balance.The final saw Morgan constantly drop his hands and catch Stirling with right hands. The only surprise was that only two of the three judges saw Morgan as the winner.In Morgan’s quarter final contest, he beat Sean McArdle (Sefton), stopping his opponent in the second round after a series of hard body punches. In the semi final, Morgan beat game Matthew Hastings (Folkstone) by unanamous decision.

Club Captain Aarron Morgan, Aarron also won a gold medal at the Danish Box Cup this year

In a final full of thrills and spills, Islington’s recently crowned Female ABA champion Stephanie Louis-Fernand (Female, Class B U 67Kgs), lost a close unanamous decision to Gator’s ABA champion, Hazel Gale. The bout lived up to it’s billing and both boxers showed why they are the best in their respective categories. Each round was boxed at a furios pace, but in the end, Gale’s ability to push Louis-Fernand back made the difference.In the semi-finals, Louis-Fernand faced another recently crowned ABA champion in Tasha Cole (HOP) and won by a wide unanamous decision.

Stephanie Louis-Fernand

IBC’s Ryan Turner (Youth A class U81Kgs) disappointed in the final against Jacob Johansen (Arhus, Denmark). Turner never got going and the shorter Johansen had things all his own way. Johansen constantly landing big overhand rights to the head of Turner & was leading going into the last round. A big right from Johnasen in the 3rd, opened up a nasty cut on the eyebrow of Turner and with blood pouring from the wound, the referee had no choice but to stop the contest in favour of the Dane.

IBC Heavyweight Junior Miller (Male, Senior Class A U91Kgs), lost to William Close (Bangor) in a tame final. There was not a lot of action until the last 15 seconds of the bout, as both boxers, wary of each other, refused to commit. Close looked to be in front after two rounds as  he landed the more eye catching counter punches.In the dying seconds of the final round, Miller finally opened up and landed a series of punches with Close against the ropes, but it was too little, too late, and the bell came to the rescue of the Bangor boxer.Close took as deserved unanamous decision.

Islington’s youth boxer Enrico Mullings (Youth Class A, U71Kgs), dropped a unanamous decision in the final against Norways, Alexander Zaneski. Mullings, took the opener as he landed the cleaner punches, The second went to Zaneski, who started to open up with two fisted attacks. With the contest firmly in the balance going into the last, it was zaneski who managed to raise his game and take the round, decision and gold medal.

Enrico Mullings

In the Male Senior Class C category (U67Kgs), Islington’s James Woodward, lost in the semi-final to experienced Barry Buchanan (Hastings, Westhill) by unanmous decision. Woodward took the opener, but Buchanan looked to have edged the second. The last round saw Woodward go for broke, but in the process left himself open to Buchanan’s sharp counters, which proved decisive.Woodward, had earlier beaten Tejan Massally (West Ham), in an entertaining quarter final bout, 2 days earlier.

James Woodward

Check out below of the pics of the winners!

The Three Champions!

Report by Bevis Allen

Photos by Dieter Perry