By James Bovington
Two teenage boys were amongst boxers from Bramley Villagers Club who won their fights on the club’s first home show of the year.
Oscar Fletcher won an Independent Boxing Championship 60 kg title belt and Reuban Briggs showed his potential in a stunning debut performance.
“Winning the belt means so much,” said Oscar, who at 17 is at college studying mechanics. “It’s everything I’ve been working towards for the past few years. I beat a strong opponent in Firefight Gym’s Finley Whelan. Now I have won it, it just gives me more motivation to keep fighting winning more belts as I work towards my eventual goal of becoming a professional boxer, hopefully even a champion.”
Injury forced Oscar to give up a football career with Bradford City Academy and on recovery he switched to boxing.
“I trained at a couple of other gyms and then settled on Villagers, and I now train with Titch and Danny Mitchell three times a week,” he said. “They’ve been brilliant with me these past two years. Lots of encouragement and rewarding hard work in an amazing team atmosphere. Boxing means that lads like Finley and me are strong and tough and proud that we can handle ourselves.”
Fifteen-year-old Reuban began boxing at Villagers aged six and was initially coached by Billy Wilkinson. “I’ve always been passionate about boxing, but it’s often taken a back seat to playing rugby for Stanningley. I train intensively in both sports.
“We’re five brothers from a sporty family. Connor boxed at Villagers and Lochie is now playing rugby league in Australia. Dad was a professional rugby player. I love it at Villagers the learning and the banter and we’ve all got massive respect for Titch and Danny.”
Reuban weighed in at 67 kg to beat Firefight’s Jacob Smith in a fast-moving bout in which both boys boxed with courage. “Jacob’s got guts, I admire him for that but I was determined to win,” stated Reuban. “Like Oscar I want to be a professional boxer. I just want to keep showing what I’m made of. I’ll fight anyone and beat them so keen to see who’s courageous enough to take me on next.”
Both boys are looking for sponsorship to help them progress in their boxing. Individuals or companies interested in offering support can use Facebook to contact Oscar Fletcher or Reuban via his mother Don M Briggs.
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