HARWICH Boxing Club’s John Wheatley was unsuccessful in the defence of his Essex elite welterweight title after two bouts in 24 hours.

In his first contest for ten months, he took on Myland ABC’s Jack Martin, at Debenham, in the semi-final last Friday.

Wheatley took a cautious approach in the first session, doing just enough to edge the round.

The second round saw Wheatley take the contest by the scruff on the neck and dominate, with stinging left hooks finding the mark.

With a high pace beginning to tell, Martin had some success in the third round.

However, Wheatley dug in and battled hard to the final bell.

This seasoned campaigner’s reward was a unanimous points decision and a place in the Essex final.

Twenty-four hours later, Wheatley returned to ring action in Attenborough for the final against former multi-titled junior boxer Tom Beaney, from Holland Park.

Beaney had been fortunate enough to receive a bye to the final and, after Wheatley’s exertions the previous night, the Harwich boxer was mindful not to push the pace this time. Subsequently, the first two rounds were tight affairs, with neither boxer wanting to commit.

However, Beaney did just that little bit more to steal the rounds.

With nothing to lose, Wheatley closed the final round the stronger, taking the session, yet not enough to take the overall decision, going down on a points verdict.

Wheatley will be back with a slot on the next Harwich home show on May 23 at the Park Pavilion and later on in the multi-nations Haringey Box Cup in June in London.