Oxford Boxing Academy’s Ben Kaluza is thr-ough to the next round of the ABA Junior Championships, but he had to battle all the way against Berinsfield’s Will Joyce in Reading.
The advantage swung from one to the other during three close rounds, with Kaluza emerging as Home Counties class four lightweight champion by a slim majority.
Thame’s Brandon Buckley bowed out after losing to Niall Henderson, of the host gym, on a close split decision.
Windrush Valley schoolboy Matt Redman had to come from behind to gain a unanimous points win over Bulmershe rival Zeeshan Habib in a supporting contest.
Bantamweight Lawrence Lewis bowed out of this year’s senior ABA title trail at Luton after losing on points to Norwich Lads rival Danny Perry.
Going into the final round there was little to separate the duo, but the Oxford Boxing Academy man failed to match the workrate of the Eastern Counties champion in the deciding three minutes.
That leaves Banbury cruiserweight Robert Evans, who had a walkover at Luton, the lone contender from the area in the quarter-finals at She-ffield next month.
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