It was a superb night for the Erne Boxing Club as they returned from the Ulster finals in Newtownstewart last weekend with one gold and one silver medal. John Stokes fought very gallantly in defeat but this season’s revelation Mark Kells scored a lightning quick win within 20 seconds of the first bell.

It drew much praise from coach Sean Crowley: “Mark has been such a revelation this season, a Mid Ulster title and gaining valuable experience were his initial goals. But not only has he surpassed those in achieving an Ulster title but coupled with the great improvement he has made a National title this term is now a realistic prospect.

“He’s now unbeaten in eight contests so far this season but more significantly since stepping up to championship boxing he’s won every match inside the distance by TKO winning Tyrone & Fermanagh, Mid Ulster and Ulster titles in the process. He’s going to be a handful for any opponent at the National finals in Dublin and if he handles the occasion and maintains his form there could be more success to come!”

Stokes was the first in action and pitted against four-times Irish and current Irish title Paddy McShane (Letterkenny BC) in the Boy 4 (Under 15s) 36kgs final.

The first half-minute of the opener was a feeling out session but McShane then seized control and applied steady pressure. Stokes tried to box and use his height and reach advantages but McShane used his greater strength to get in close and land solid shots.

In the second session Stokes was under pressure immediately and forced to hold and smother McShane. As the round progressed McShane found the target with some precise and hurtful shots to have Stokes in discomfort. At the end of the round with Stokes again under fire again he was sensibly retired by the corner and forced to settle for a hard-earned Silver medal.

The afternoon finished on a high as Mark Kells made light work of his Junior 1 (Under 16s) 70kgs final by wiping out his Derry opponent Ben Dobbins (Moneyglass BC) inside 20 seconds.

Both boxers entered the contest with an air of confidence and traded shots from the very start, however after Dobbins backed away from the first exchange Kells closed the distance down adeptly and landed a solid right-hook to his opponent’s chin and dropped him heavily.

Dobbins bravely beat the count but was still shaken by the punch and the contest was rightly called off to hand Kells victory by TKO. The victory gave Kells his eighth consecutive win but more importantly earned him an Ulster title and qualification to the National finals later this month.

The Erne Boxing Club advise that they have a very busy month ahead alongside Mark Kells competing in the National Finals, they have Dylan McMahon selected to compete in a Tyrone and Fermanagh County Board match against Donegal, five boxers preparing for the Mid Ulster Schoolboy/girl championships and then over the Easter weekend they are bringing a team of six to compete at Newburgh Hook Elite BC’s “Gloves Up, Guns Down, Stop the Violence” tournament in Newburgh, New York State. Sean Crowley added, “It’s a great privilege to be bringing a team to support this great youth project. Hook Elite BC do fantastic community work in one of the USA’s most deprived and dangerous inner cities and we will be the first ever international team to attend one of their tournaments and are honoured to help them promote peace and unity.”