HARWICH ABC fighters claimed titles in the Essex round of the Senior ABA Championships.

First up was Joey Avenell against Danny Newth, of Rayleigh, who recorded a win against the Harwich boxer last month, making it his fourth loss in a row.

Newth set the pace from the opening bell, forcing Avenell to box to tactics and pick his shots at long range to keep his advancing opponent at bay.

An improved second round from Avenell saw him begin to catch his shorter opponent as he pressed with eye-catching straight punches and looked to be leading going into the last round.

With the Essex title in sight, the Rayleigh boxer really forced the pace in the last session, forcing Avenell to box off the ropes at times, but he was not to be denied in his first year of the Senior ABA Championships.

With the clearer punches coming from the Harwich boxer he was awarded a hard-fought majority points win.

Avenell showed true character in moving down to bantamweight and recording a victory to lift his first senior title.

Welterweight Ryan Frost looked to follow in Avenell’s footsteps against Michael Chalkley, of Rayleigh ABC.

Southpaw Frost looked to control the bout in the opening session, using his boxing skills to good effect, picking the more eye-catching punches.

However, the Rayleigh boxer looked to change tactics slightly in the second and began pressing forward, not allowing Frost as much time to counter and catching the Harwich boxer on the retreat, backing him up against the ropes.

With not much between the two boxers, Frost had to dig deep in the last round, in his first experience of three three-minute rounds, and was rewarded for his efforts with a majority points win along with the Essex ABA title.

With light middleweight Jack Shirmer already through, light welterweight John Wheatley was drawn against experienced Mickey Hansell, of Brentwood Youth ABC.

The bout proved to be a really close affair with both boxers having moments of success.

With not much to split the two after three hard-fought rounds, it was just not to be for the Harwich boxer who dropped the tightest of majority decisions.