Exciting boxing prospect Bradley Smith staged a blistering fightback to remain on course for glory in the national Golden Gloves competition – much to the delight of his proud trainer Colin Hough.
The Shrewsbury & Severnside ABC youngster was crowned Midland Counties champion in the class three 60-63 kilogram section after digging deep to get the better of Birmingham-based teenage England international Francis Bennett in Coventry last weekend.
The 14-year-old from Copthorne was well behind on points going into the last round but then came roaring back to earn the right to face a mystery Yorkshire opponent in the last eight of the national stages in Derbyshire a week on Sunday.
“Bradley’s boxing really well at the moment and he’ll be a handful for anybody,” said Severnside trainer Hough.
“You can’t get better than beating an England international, as Bradley did last weekend, and it was an amazing performance.”
Incredible
Hough felt Smith, a Priory School pupil, was unfortunate to find himself 7-1 and then 10-4 adrift on the computerised points scoring system after the opening two rounds against highly-rated Chelmsley Wood ABC puncher Bennett in Coventry.
But then came an incredible third and final round as the Shrewsbury boxer, who had hardly trained in the week leading up to his big contest as he had been ill, engineered a remarkable turnaround to come out on top.
Bennett was eventually disqualified in the closing seconds for repeatedly holding on – he had already received two warnings – but Smith would have won anyway after opening up an 11-10 points lead.
“I told Bradley before he went out for the third round that he was a mile behind and he might as well just go for it,” said Hough.
“But what he went out and did, I must admit I didn’t think he had in him as it was amazing. He threw a terrific right hander which led to Bennett’s legs buckling.
“I thought the referee would step in and stop it then but he didn’t. Bennett then had two warnings for holding but Bradley kept going.
“I’m not a dramatist but I’ve seen a few bouts in my time and I’ve never seen a comeback like this before.
“Bradley’s done brilliantly to reach the last eight and be a Midlands champion as he also had a hard bout in the previous round when he beat Attiq Suleman, another tough lad from Birmingham, who has got a very good record.”
Meanwhile, tickets have gone on sale priced £25 each for Severnside’s next dinner-boxing show at the Lord Hill Hotel on Saturday, February 23 (6.30pm start). They are available from Hough on (01743) 366286.