Halstead Amateur Boxing Club enjoyed success on the Rayleigh Mills Open Show.

Light middleweight senior James Blore faced Fred Gola from Peacock ABC London.

Blore was not in awe of his experienced opponent, shooting out a stunning left hook to the jaw at the start, followed by several left and rights which had real purpose. Gola remained unruffled, though, and evened up the scoring.

The second round was all close-quarter stuff, with both dominating fierce exchanges to head and body, but as Blore looked to be on the point of a good win an accidental clash of heads opened up a gash over his eye.

The referee called the doctor but he allowed the bout to continue.

Blore got through the final round with real force and a short burst of savage fighting at the end saw him receive a unanimous judges’ vote.

Next in for Halstead was senior cruiserweight Joe Bonito against his old foe, Mark Emerson from Billericay ABC, but he failed to avenge a close defeat by Emerson last season.

The Billericay boxer came forward to force the bout but Bonito was looking the better puncher and out-scored his opponent in round one.

Bonito took the contest to Emerson more in the second round and scored almost at will. A storming last round attack by Bonito and courageous retaliation by Emerson was rewarded by a great ovation but the crowd demonstrated their displeasure when the verdict was announced that Bonito had lost on a split decision.

In his second skills contest, Halstead’s Joseph Wiseman faced Rayleigh’s Lewis Walton and showed a mature display of confident boxing.

Both boxers stepped up the pace in the final round with Wiseman making a fast start but Walton began to find his rhythm and the Halstead boxer had to use clever defences to weather the storm.

n Halstead runners Gavin Allen and Tom Cammack completed the London Marathon in two hours 45 minutes and 2h 49m respectively, while James Smith ran the Manchester Marathon in 2h 38m.

All three have been training at Halstead Boxing Club and money they raised will be donated to the Mary Barron Suite Cancer Unit in Colchester Hospital.