EIGHTEEN excellent contests took place when Harwich Boxing Club hosted their annual show at Dovercourt's Park Pavilion.

No less than seven boxers from the home club were in action.

Top of the bill was the fight between recent national novice finalist Paul Gordon and Billericay’s far more experienced Michael Chawkley.

Welterweight Gordon nicked the first two sessions with the more accurate shots.

However, Chawkley stormed back into contention in the last as he forced the pace.

With just ten seconds remaining, the ringside doctor terminated the contest due to swelling on Chawkley's eye, as a result of an accidental head clash.

In such circumstances the contest goes to the scorecards and Gordon's early work was reflected as he took a unanimous points win.

Stevie Martin, 14, gave a glimpse of what he can do when on form in his bout with Sol Brooks, from Hockley ABC.

With both boxers holding a win apiece against each other, the contest would be deemed the rubber match.

Sharp counter-punching and nimble footwork saw Martin storm into an early lead.

Brooks tried to keep the contest at close range, where he had his best successes.

However, Martin boxed to orders by keeping the contest at long range to take a popular unanimous points decision.

The competitive bouts were kicked off by 11-year-old Cameron Walker, looking for his first-ever win at the second attempt.

The taller Stanley Smith, from St Neots, failed to fend off a marauding Cameron in the opener, who scored well with his right hand.

Smith did close the gap in the last as Cameron tired, but the Harwich boy did just enough to get the split points win.

Southpaw Sean Darvell, 16, displayed some excellent technical work in his derby match-up with Colchester's Ben Lee. Darvell sneaked the first round, but Lee came storming back in the second with a heavy salvo of shots.

Little separated the two in the last, with Darvell's neater boxing just seeing him over the line on a wafer-thin split points win.

Debutant Killian Hardy faced the challenge of Oliver Smith, from the Patricks club in Ipswich.

Killian grew in confidence as the bout progressed, with his supreme fitness and power being the telling factor.

Heavy left hooks and right crosses convinced the referee to terminate the contest in the last round in favour of Killian, to save his opponent from further punishment.

The 16-year-old's performance and dedication to his preparation for this contest also saw him collect the best home boxer trophy.

Fourteen-year-old Toby Gledhill also got his first taste of ring action when he took on Peter Langdale, from St Neots.

Both youngsters traded freely for three rounds in what can be best described as a real old fashioned tear up.

Gledhill took a close and hard-earned split points win.

Finally there was a little piece of club history, as light heavyweight Gavin Hewitt became the oldest Harwich club member to take part in competition at the age of 34.

He gave a brave showing against the heavy-handed Billy Pagden, from Boston, before going down on points.