HARWICH Boxing Club entered three of their brightest prospects in the prestigious multi-nations Haringey Box Cup, staged over three days at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Leading the way was recent England international debutant and light heavyweight Patrick Allen Cripps.

Competing in the 81kg light heavyweight division, he drew Al Martinsen, from Oslo, Norway.

Allen Cripps put in a workmanlike performance in the quarter-final, using the ring well to pick off his opponent with neat shots on the counter - a tactic that served him well in these championships.

After three three-minute rounds, his efforts were rewarded with a unanimous points win.

Allen Cripps' semi-final contest saw him pitched against Klinton Baptiste, from the Hoddesdon ABC outfit in Hertfordshire.

His excellent ring craft frustrated his opponent as he moved his way into the final with another 5-0 unanimous points decision victory.

In a repeat of the 2017 Haringey Box Cup final at 81kg, Allen Cripps looked to mirror his win 12 months earlier against old rival Omar Augustine, from Earlsfield ABC.

Given that Augustine had beaten an England international in his semi-final the previous day, the Harwich boxer knew it was going to be a difficult challenge. Nonetheless, 20-year-old Allen Cripps oozed confidence as he made the ever-advancing Londoner miss time and time again, only to be punished with slick counter-punches.

The tactics worked perfectly and although Allen Cripps picked up a warning in the last for holding in an otherwise tidy contest, he took a deserved gold after a unanimous 5-0 points decision.

Seventeen-year-old Rio Gordon quite literally stole the show with three outstanding performances in the class A youth under 69k category.

In his quarter-final, Gordon forced a standing eight count in the opening minute against Eddie Croft, from Henrys Gym ABC, in York.

It served as a warning sign that he was about to arrive on the biggest box cup club championship in Europe.

A unanimous points decision followed as Gordon boxed from distance to save his energies for the battles to come.

His semi-final would be an epic affair against Hoddeson's Jake Henty - an established England international at junior level.

Gordon's pressure tactics paid off on this occasion as he continually frustrated Henty with his ferocious assaults to both head and body.

Southpaw Henty was always in the hunt and with a very harsh warning against Gordon for using the inside of the glove in the dying seconds of the bout, the outcome was thrown into doubt.

However, Gordon would not be denied as he rightfully progressed on a 4-1 split points win.

Cue the final against Taylor Bevan, from Poseidon ABC in Southampton, who had beaten the England number one at the weight two days earlier.

Gordon therefore knew he was up against it.

In a magnificent display of courage, heart and determination, Gordon bulled forward non-stop for nine minutes, acting under instruction from his coaches, to nullify the skills of Bevan.

The tactic paid dividends and eventually Gordon's superior fitness and stamina came though as he pulled away to take gold via a unanimous points decision.

Gordon's efforts also saw him adjudged the overall best youth boxer of these championships.

Not to be outdone, Gordon's brother, welterweight Paul Gordon, also looked to secure his first gold at these championships, after taking silver in 2017.

The quarter-final would see him pitched against old rival Reese Wade, from Essex University ABC.

Nothing separated the boxers in the opener.

However, Paul pulled away in the second half of rounds two and three to take a unanimous points win and score his third win over the Essex University boxer in as many months.

Soldier Calum Hill, from the British Army, provided the opposition in the semi-final.

However, he would be hampered by a cut eye he received in his quarter-final win.

Within the first minute, Paul's accurate and concise shots had opened the cut and, after surviving two doctor's inspections, the referee finally halted the action in favour of the Harwich boxer, to catapult him into his second box cup final with that elusive gold now very much in sight.

Blocking the way would be awesome talent Dean Walsh - a four-time senior elite all-Ireland champion and former 2015 elite European bronze medallist. Unfazed, Paul adapted well to his experienced opponent and fought when he had to and boxed at range when he had to.

He matched the Irishman in every department and dug deep in the last to squeeze out a famous victory on the tightest of margins with a 3-2 split points win.