The Erne Boxing Club had a fantastic weekend of boxing with unsung hero Mark Kells winning an Irish Title at National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday followed by three boxers collecting Ulster Schoolboys/girls titles in Rochesters, Co Derry on Sunday and also gaining passage to the National finals.

Kells was first in action against Ali Ahmed (Carryduff BC) in the Junior 1 (Under 16’s) 70kg final.

Ahmed, a tall stylish boxer, started well boxing on the move and seeking to pepper Kells with jabs and right crosses.

However, Kells pressed the action and soon found the range with some powerful shots.

Midway through the first round Kells up the pace and managed to outwork and bully his opponent with a barrage of body shots to take the session.

Kells started round two purposefully and menacingly, he landed with some solid shots early on to force a standing count.

On resumption he went all out to force a stoppage but Ahmed was both resilient and brave.

Ahmed weathered the storm and then came back strong as Kells tired, landing with some good clean punches to take the round.

In the final session Kells came out rejuvenated after the break and fought relentlessly.

Kells landed with some solid combinations to take an early leaded and then matched Ahmed jab-for-jab down the stretch to take the session and subsequently collect a unanimous points win from the five judges.

“It’s been a fairy-tale success story for Mark Kells this season,” said Erne Boxing Club coach Sean Crowley.

“He joined the club with a record of four losses from four contests but has now won ten consecutive matches beating two very good English opponents before gaining County, Regional, Ulster titles and now a National crown.

“He’s worked immensely hard since joining the club and is improving all the time. His sheer will to win and determination has seen him overcome some more technically gifted opponents but he’s improving technically all the time himself and has potential to achieve much more success.

“I wish to thank the rest of the coaching team Aidan Kelly, Greg Copeland, Jim Toye and Sean Crudden, as Mark is our fourth National champion to date (our second inside twelve months) and is the product of a great team effort.”

The following Sunday in Derry, Oisin Cassidy Boy 1 (Under 12’s) 50kgs, Kaci Crowley Girl 2 (Under 13’s) 55kgs and Joanna Czerwinska Girl 4 (Under 15’s) 68kgs all collected Ulster titles by way of walkover.

Erne Boxing Club’s fourth finalist Thomas McDonagh was pitted against Derry’s Cathal Cooke (Maydown Olympic BC) in the Boy 1 (Under 12’s) 29kgs final.

McDonagh made all the early running landing with good jab-cross combinations to establish an early lead and take the opener.

Cooke responded well in the second and outworked McDonagh to level matters.

In the final round McDonagh made a very good start and again scored with some good eye-catching punches but faded in the later stages of the round.

Agonisingly, the split decision 3-2 went in favour of Cooke forcing McDonagh to settle for a gallantly earned silver medal.

“The club were very unfortunate not to be celebrating four more Ulster titles this weekend,” said Crowley.

“Thomas McDonagh did extremely well and many observers felt he deserved the verdict. However, it wasn’t to be but he’s young and talented enough to come again.

“However, the club will be proudly represented in the National Finals by two new faces in Oisin Cassidy and Joanna Czerwinska who both won Ulster titles for the first time and they join last year’s National champion Kaci Crowley who won her fifth Ulster title to date and will be seeking to defend her title next month.”

The Erne Boxing Club advise that Mark Kells will now appear on the International stage next as he is part of an Erne Boxing Club team of six boxers competing in Newburgh, New York, USA next week. Kells joins Bernard McGovern, Harris Crowley, Kaci Crowley, Mark Monahan and Ryan Copeland who compete at the Gloves Up, Guns Down, Stop the Violence tournament on Easter Sunday.