HARWICH boxers competed in the prestigious Haringey Box Cup, at Alexandra Palace, in London.

Seventeen-year-old puncher Pat Allen Cripps had a Youth A final against Norway’s Islam Ismailov, from Grimstad Boxing Club.

Ismailov had won his semi-final the previous day, with a chilling first-round knockout of his opponent.

Allen Cripps therefore knew he was up against it.

Nevertheless, he was first out of the blocks and his precise shots saw him take the round.

Ismailov, knowing he was behind in this light heavyweight final, then upped his game in the second round.

After a ferocious ten-second exchange at the start of the round, he had a platform to take control of the bout.

His superior fitness saw him wear down Allen Cripps to take a deserved points decision. Considering the Harwich boxer had just three weeks’ notice to prepare for the tournament, he should be pleased with his silver medal and will be back after the summer break in the quest for more honours.

Fellow 17-year-old Jimmy Preston was hoping to gain valuable experience at the Box Cup.

He had notched up just three bouts previously, winning them all.

Preston drew a quarter-final against 14-bout veteran Chad Thompson, from Portsmouth.

Lightweight Preston stormed the first session, forcing the pace with his hook punches paying dividends.

In the second and third rounds, he put those hooks to more good use, now boxing off the back foot.

This gutsy showing saw the Harwich boxer rewarded with a deserved points victory and a place in the following day’s semi-finals.

Preston would need another giant-killing performance, as he had competed in four times fewer contests than his next opponent, South Oxhey’s Tom Forshaw.

Preston started the more purposeful, as his determination to make the final shone through with those hooks yet again finding the mark.

The second saw the fresher Forshaw – who had received a bye to the semi-final – begin to take control of the bout with neat combinations catching Preston.

Preston would not be denied, though, and dug in for a barnstorming last round, with both boxers having their moments of supremacy.

In the end, Forshaw nicked a split points verdict.

However, Preston’s performances against the odds indicate he will be one to look out for in the future.