Town 5 - 4 Gowns

Cambridge University Boxing Club and a coach full of travelling support descended on the Cambridge Motel on Saturday night in the first Town versus Gown contest for several years. The CUABC fighters put in a number of impressive performances against strong opposition which, despite losing 5-4 on the night, gives them every reason to be confident with the Varsity Match fast approaching.

After the inevitable pomp and ceremony the first fight set the tone for a thrilling evening.  An old hand in the ring and returning blue, Ed Chadwick, fought one of five highly experienced fighters from the Metropolitan Police. It was a fiery affair with both men racing out of the blocks, not afraid to pull any punches. Chadwick, however, paid the price for his offensive, being caught off guard and receiving a number of right hooks from the policeman. With the policeman bearing down on him, Chadwick, in spite a valiant effort, could find no answer until Head Coach Bob Blowes eventually threw the towel in late in the second.

The University boxers were under no illusions of the quality opposition and the next three bouts all went the Town’s way. Fergal McCool was perhaps unlucky to be pitted against such a competent fighter in John Metcalf, again from the Met, and lost on points despite showing some classy moves. Superheavy-weight ‘Big’ Robert Pepper certainly will be feeling aggrieved after dominating the first 90 seconds of his fight before Sam Smith, with what seemed to be his first and only punch, enforced a dubious Technical Knockout. 4-0 to the Town.

Staring at a whitewash, Cambridge fought back into the contest with Elliot ‘The Pitbull’ Chambers staging perhaps the biggest upset of the night in his first ever fight. His opponent Dave Goddard was not only ten years his senior but also the reigning Police welterweight champion. But the Robinson Geographer certainly didn’t lack confidence. His hubristic pre-fight affirmation that ‘Amateur Boxing needs me’ was perhaps confirmed as he danced his way around the ring like a young deer with Goddard failing to land most of his throws.  With his opponent frustrated, Chambers varied his attack well and landed a fine right hook in the second. His quick feet and slipping ensured that he contained all that Goddard had to throw at him in the third and he scored a majority points decision.

If Chambers produced the biggest upset then SSegewa Kiwanuka took the prize for performance of the night. In a barnstorming display, the Queens PHD student displayed a power that few will live with, dispensing of his classy opponent from ICENI ABC with a right hand of fury in the second and had the audience in awe at his stunning raw talent. This is what they had come to see. Kiwanuka, who missed the bus to the contest, told Varsity that “It was a very tough fight and he threw a lot of punches but our three coaches are fantastic and they prepared me for that.  I’ve never knocked a guy down but I gotta’ look pretty for this Opera”.

This was followed by a superb performance by Bart Dear who simply out boxed his opponent from Marston ABC. Next up was the all female contest, which one judge labeled the most stylish of the night. However a loss for Heley Matthews put the score at 5-3 to the Town, putting victory out of sight with just one fight left.

Even if victory was then beyond the CUABC, inspirational captain Chris Webb rounded the night off with a show of maturity and skill. He showed himself a cut above the rest with superb agility combined with a jab which stalked his opponent throughout the fight. A unanimous points decision for the captain putting the final score at 5-4 to the Town.Attributing his performances to the coaches Webb said “although he was beating me in the first round our coaches have a policy in the gym of fitness first and that’s what saw me through”. He could have afforded to be less humble.

In spite of this loss, Head Coach Bill Blowes will be more than content with this performance which he suggested showed that, “we are human after all” after last year’s 9-0 Varsity demolition. Make no mistake, this was serious opposition, who were pushed all the way by the University.  In the end the night belonged to the boxing debutants, Kiwanuka chief among them, who provide more talent to add to an already professional unit. CUABC will take some beating come the trip up to Oxford on March 9th.