Bideford boxer achieves coaching badge

Bideford’s Alex Dovell has passed his England Boxing level 1 coaching course after two intense weekends of assessment.

Dovell, the current Light Heavyweight Western Counties belt holder, has had over 30 bouts for the club and will now help coach at the club alongside his boxing career. 

Youngster Leo McMenamin travelled to Mountain Ash, Wales to box against Joe Smith from Pontyclun ABC. Both boxers went out at a high pace from the opening bell but McMenamin was winning the exchanges with the cleaner shots.

In the second, Smith showed his skills, hitting and moving in a tighter round. Being the away boxer, McMenamin needed a big round and delivered with non-stop pressure pinning Smith to the ropes, working away at the head and body to get the points win for the Bideford boxer. 

Jake Van Emmenis showed plenty of potential in his debut on the Torrington show, as he boxed Logan Brooks from Spartan ABC. Van Emmenis won all three rounds, forcing two standing counts before getting the win on points.  

Pete Fitzgerald struggled to get going against southpaw opponent Richie Clarke losing out on points. 

Bideford Heavyweight Gab Silva represented the Royal Navy in Holland in the European Military Box Cup. Silva won his semi-final in style, knocking out Hans Klein from Germany in the first round with a solid right cross.

In the final, he had a stern test against Irish International George Duffy. Silva got through some scary moments against a big puncher to use his superior boxing skills to win all three rounds and take the gold medal. 

Silva spoke of his success: “I’m very proud to represent Bideford and the Royal Navy in an international tournament. This shows what boxing can do for people, it has taken me all around the world having some great experiences. To achieve the gold medal is amazing, it’s years of hard work all coming together on the night.”