By James Bovington
Three boxers from Bramley Villagers club travelled to Fleetwood for bouts with fighters from the Lancashire town’s JFT Boxing and Fitness Gym.
Two won their contests and one drew in what was described as “the most closely fought match imaginable”.
For Zack Wood, 23, this was his first fight away from home.
He said: “It was good experience for me. I’m delighted to have won against a local lad who was determined to beat me. He failed. I was getting a bit nervous on the long drive there, but it turned out to be a positive learning experience.
“Like any sport boxing is about looking for constant improvement. I’ve been training at Villagers for the last three years and I now box better as I’m taking it seriously. Fleetwood was my third win in five contests.”
Jack Toye drew his match against one of JFT’s best boxers, Joe Walker, who recently won a title belt on Hunslet’s Mark Holmes Promotions.
Toye, 20, is one of Villagers’ more experienced boxers having won 18 of 27 matches.
“We had a good scrap and then a good chat,” said Toye. “This is what it’s all about really. Boxers generally get on well and it was good to see how Joe welcomed us just as he’d been welcomed to a recent Leeds show. Like me he was also busy helping his teammates, so all’s well. Travelling and boxing new fighters is always worthwhile.”
Plasterer Jamie Brook was also delighted to win his Fleetwood bout.
“This was my second away bout,” said Brook, 23. “It was against an experienced boxer five years older than me. He was durable. I knocked him down several times, but he kept getting up.
“Boxing with Villagers has protected me as I was getting into trouble on the streets, but I now fit in perfectly as us boxers all constantly encourage each other to improve and develop our boxing work ethic.
“I was pleased that going to Fleetwood on a December evening turned out to be so positive for Zack, Jack and Jamie,” said coach Richard Manning, also known as ‘DeeJay Titch.’
He added: “After the holidays they’ll be preparing intensively for our first 2025 home show likely in March.”
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