News - Feb 2008

Danny Butler, Spaniorum Farm’s young light-middle weight prospect, made it 10 wins out of 10 when he defended his British Masters title against Londoner David Wakefield on a Jane Couch promotion at Bristol’s Marriot Hotel.

From the first bell, Butler’s fast left lead began to score points against the more experienced Wakefield, whose main tactics were to grab Danny and work inside. The less experienced Bristolian did well to hold his own at close quarters, no doubt benefiting from his experience of being a World class junior wrestler before changing to boxing.

As the fight progressed, Danny opened Wakefield’s guard more often with his left hand and followed this with combination punches to the head. Although Butler’s lead appeared to be widening, David Wakefield,, fit, well muscled and determined, continued to pose a threat, so there was relief in the Farm corner, and a roar from the almost totally partisan Butler supporters, when David Wakefield retired with cuts at the end of the seventh round.

Rob Boardman, now training regularly at Spaniorum Farm, looked to have benefited greatly from his recent coaching and sparring with Danny Butler and other Farm boxers, winning the first round against Jamie Ambler with style. Unfortunately from then on everything went downhill, the tall, gangly Ambler getting back into the fight with long, unreadable punches that forced Boardman to hang on with both hands in order to survive.

In the last round Ambler went down on the canvas from what could have been a punch or a slip. This may well have persuaded the referee that Boardman was the winner, a decision described by the Bristol Evening Post as “shocking”.

Chris Long, also boxing out of Spaniorum Farm Gym, was far from his usual determined self, losing to a lively, humorous, and not least quite skilful Billy Smith on points. It was obvious Chris was below par, so it was no surprise to learn that a medical check determined he had started to develop shingles.

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