TAUNTON Blueflames ABC had their first boxing show since being set up only four months ago, and what a success it turned out to be, writes Dale Nixon.

With a capacity crowd at The Lawns Club, the atmosphere was electric, with all Blueflames boxers having the crowd cheering them on to provide a great home advantage.

The home team made the most of this, winning six of the eight bouts they were involved in, and even the two losses were debatable decisions which could very easily have gone the other way.

With 14 bouts throughout the night, the action started with some pad workouts for a few of the younger boxers who were not boxing on the night.

Liam Tate, Jess Heyburn and Anya Wilson gave an insight into three boxers to keep a close eye on.

After this, young Owen Tate had a skills bout against Frome’s K. Sheared.

A skills bout is designed to give young boxers a taste of boxing in front of a big crowd.

There is no winner or loser, just a rehearsal for the real thing. Tate showed he is more than prepared for a full bout next time with some lovely boxing and skills.

In the first full bout of the night, Ernie Shorten proved too good for J. Williams of Bargoed and scored a points win.

Next was James Watts, who outpointed M.Hughes from Whitchurch ABC.

Watts’ performance was good enough to see him awarded boxer of the night.

Tom Whitworth was next in, having his first ever bout against R. Nelson, also of Whitchurch ABC.

Whitworth’s awkward style and southpaw stance was too much for the Bristol lad, who was on the receiving end of some heavy shots - the ref soon stepped in and stopped the bout in the second round, giving Whitworth a brilliant first win.

Next in was Bailey Nixon against Kings ABC’s Ashley Duffas.

Nixon was on his opponent for all three rounds in one of the most entertaining bouts of the night and the judges award the decision to the Blueflames boxer.

George Scutt was next up against J.Dury of Swindon.

After another great entertaining fight which was too close to call, the judges swayed towards the Swindon lad, awarding him the decision.

Blueflames’ Nathan Chillingworth then took on J.Lockey from Rough Diamonds ABC.

Chillingworth showed some amazing power punching and stamina which his opponent couldn’t match.

The referee jumped in and stopped the bout midway through the second round.

Taunton’s Simon Heyburn worked magnificently behind his jab to outpoint M.Griffiths from Torbay.

The final bout of the night was Blueflames’ Lewis Scutt against Lydney’s L. O’Hare

This was a fight which swayed back and forth, full of excitement, although Lewis seemed to get the better of it as the bout progressed.

The judges, however, thought the Lydney lad had done enough in the early part of the bout to hand him the decision, one that many thought could have gone the other way.

The Blueflames boxers all did themselves and the club proud, in what turned out to be a cracking night’s boxing.

All monies raised on Saturday night goes straight back to the club, whose aim is to have a sponsored Blueflames minibus by the end of the season.