Brilliant Beer wins Western Counties belt in thrilling night for Bideford boxing

Bideford ABC hosted an action-packed night of boxing to a sellout crowd at the Pollyfield Community Centre. 

The main event was Dre Beer v James Coddington from Chard for the Western Counties Bantamweight Belt. Coddington showed his superior experience in the first round, boxing and moving effectively.

In the second, Beer dragged his way back into the fight, backing Coddington up with jabs and rallying away with head and body shots as he was trapped on the ropes. The title was in the balance going into the last round but Beer, cheered on by the home crowd, went through the gears, landing strong hooks to dominate the last round and lift the belt with a split decision win. 

Bideford heavyweight Egan Ross won best senior boxer of the night, knocking out Silas Van Edan from St Just. After a tight first round with both boxers working behind the jab well, Ross stepped it up in round two, bringing the right hand into play, a double jab and overhand right landed on Van Edan’s jaw and knocked him out cold. 

Rocky Grigg won best junior boxer of the night with a thrilling battle against Welsh Champion Dion Jones. Grigg worked well off the lead hand in the first round, mixing shots up to the head and body.

In the second, Grigg went up another gear, landing three and four punch combinations, but Jones proved a worthy opponent always replying. By the last round Grigg had broke Jones down and was finding gaps landing big shots. Grigg rolled underneath and come over the top with a big left hook to wobble Jones forcing a standing count before being announced a unanimous points winner. 

Jed Avery made an explosive return to the ring after a two-year absence due to injuries. Standing in front of him was Alfie Yates from St Ives. Avery put the pressure on right from the start, chucking big uppercuts and hooks from the opening bell forcing a standing count in the first round. In the second, Avery carried on his work and dominance, forcing another standing count and the referee to wave the fight off and declare him the winner. 

Gypsy Tee met a strong opponent in Shania Smith from Newquay but, despite a tough first couple of rounds, Tee came into the fight with a big last round, seeing Smith trapped on the ropes. Ultimately, it was too late to win the fight as the unanimous verdict went against her but she received a stand ovation from the crowd for her efforts. 

Steve Wallace used age as an advantage as the 38 year-old boxed a youthful Harvey Davies from Port Talbot. Davies had the speed and the reflexes but Wallace got the game plan spot on with educated pressure. In the second, Wallace added the spiteful body shots to slow the taller man down. Wallace had taken a lot out of Davies by the last and forced two standing counts on him from right crosses before getting the split points win. 

Tremayne Reeves avenged a recent loss to Kline Rutherford from St Ives. Reeves made an aggressive start but took his foot off the gas in the second letting Rutherford back into the fight. A big last was needed and Reeves delivered with non-stop pressure to breakdown the bigger man, choosing quantity over quality to take the split points win. 

Dylan Burston was another split points winner against Teodor Korev from Winchester. After a tight first round, the action erupted in the second as both boxers teed off big the big shots, with Burston having the better of the exchanges. The action slowed in the last but Burston, who switched from orthodox to southpaw, scored the classier shots to take the win. 

Pete Fitzgerald and Max Kirkwood from Cardigan had another all-action bout. Fitzgerald dominated the first and had Kirkwood hurt on several occasions. But the Welshman proved tough and came back stronger in the second round, catching Fitzgerald with his hands down and forcing the stoppage.

Rhyder Willoughby started the night off well and showed plenty of potential beating Rilee Quinney from Camborne by unanimous points and forcing a standing count along the way from a right cross. 

Stan Moran featured in a local derby against Josh Pitts from Torrington. Moran dominated the fight from range in the early stages, working behind straight punches. As the fight progressed, Pitts had success on the inside but Moran ultimately used his feet well to get in and out of trouble, hitting and not getting hit to take the split points win. 

Zakk Bowden proved too powerful for Lucas Petherick from Crediton. Bowden worked behind his southpaw lead and finish with strong body shots winding Petherick on several occasions. As the hands began to drop, heavy left hooks rocked Petherick, forcing two standing counts on the way to a unanimous points win. 

James Birch took his winning streak to four fights unbeaten against Clarke Dexter from Yeovil. It was back and forth for two rounds in a toe-to-toe battle. Birch showed superior fitness to pull away in the last, forcing a standing count on Dexter from a four-punch combination before gaining the split decision win.

There was one cross match on the night and that was Welsh Champion Carter Roberts against Liam Legg in a highly skilled senior Bantamweight contest. Legg won by a split decision in a bout that demonstrated speed throughout.