Falkirk Phoenix's "Battle of Falkirk" home show a HUGE  success... 
 

Falkirk Phoenix Boxing Club’s “Battle of Falkirk 2024” show took place last Friday (8th March) at Camelon Social Club in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of around 200. 
 

The show started with two of FPBCs Cubs Jack Martin and Euan Cooper putting on a great show in skills bout. Next up were school age bantamweights Shane Montague and Corey Sreenan, also in a exhibition bout, and they put on a fine show of skill and determination. Similarly, the club’s up-coming middleweight Callum Whitecross also acquitted himself well in a skills bout.

 

The first competitive bout for Falkirk Phoenix involved the club’s junior light-welter Christian MacKay. MacKay, from Larbert, was making his debut against Ira Tasinga from Glenrothes, who was having his second bout. This was a cracking match that had the crowd on their feet as it swung one way and then the other. However, Tasinga edged ahead the bout 2 rounds to 1, but MacKay showed that he has what takes. 

The half way point saw FPBC host a Scottish Junior Golden Gloves title bout. This saw Yehor Tsoma from Lochend take on Stephen Steadwood from the Bronx. These two-youngster showed skill and poise in a closely contested bout but Tsoma edged it and was crowned the National Golden Gloves Champion.

 

Next up for FPBC was National Development 66kgs Champion Robbie Shanks who was up against an old foe in Alexander Townsley from Beath, himself a National Development Champion at 63kgs. This clash of champions bout was trilogy decider, and was another cracker that saw Shanks on the front foot with Townsley on his bike. Despite Shanks landing heavily with his clubbing backhand Townsley's clever movement and slick counter punching saw him sneak a points win.  

 

The penultimate FPBC boxer in the ring was Marcus Allan, who can consider himself VERY unlucky indeed to have lost on a 3-2 split to Jamie Durie from Duries Boxing Club, as it looked as though he had secured a comfortable win.

 

Last up for the Phoenix was Special K Stephanie Kernachan. Special K also took on an old foe in Meadowbank’s Niamh Hay. Kernachan was on the front foot immediately, hunting for Hay. She landed repeatedly with straight and bent arm shots and this brought the best out of Hay who rallied again and again, despite Special Ks pressure. The crowd were on their feet throughout this bout which drove Kernachan on and saw the referee issue a standing count to Hay, who did well to survive. After an absolute barnstormer of a bout Kernachan was announced the winner on points by unanimous decision.   

 

The final piece of action was a nice touch by FPBC, which saw Betty Buist and her son Derek, present Special K with the inaugural “John Buist Memorial Trophy” for the best home boxer, in memory of John Buist, the former Zetland Boxing Club head coach, who died recently.  

 

The Falkirk bill was littered with talent including current and former champions as follows: Logan Steven (Madison) lost on point v Kyle Kirkwood (Jonesys),  Cooper Brown (MacTaggart Scott) lost on point v Mason Maycock (Galashiels), Liam Rutherford (Hawick) won on points v Lucas Ewan (Duries), Blair Lapsely (Alloa) lost on points v Jay Morrell (Byron) – who won best away boxer, Robbie Prosser (Alloa) won on points v Jack Noble (Galashiels), Ricky McDonald (Alloa) lost due to a cut eye v Olivier Kasusula (Renfrewshire Saltire).