Boston Reid

Reid all about it! It’s a Boston glee party

Len Whaley, Boxing Correspondent Thursday, October 25, 2012
11:32 AM

West Ham’s Boston Reid clinched the London ABA Novices lightweight title with a win double performance at Grove Park, Lewisham over the weekend.

Two unanimous points victories set up the success for the 21-year-old Hammers prospect in the Class B (up to 20 bouts) 60kg section as he showed the skills that could send him to further success in the final rounds of the National Novices competition.

He now moves through to the national quarter finals when the new London winners face the Western Counties champions at Feltham on November 3.

After qualifying early by winning the North East London title in style, Reid faced a London semi-final tester against Ulli Khawaja (Dale Youth) who tried hard to take the West Ham entry out of his stride.

However, it was the long-range shots of the Hammer that saw him move into the lead and it stayed that way to take the verdict from the ringside judges.

The following day he faced the title decider against South-East London divisional winner Chris Longhurst, a strong boxer who provided awkward opposition for the opening rounds of the contest.

However, in the final stages, it was the West Ham hope who took control of the clash with rapid-fire attacks that earned the points decision and the London title.

London titles run in the family for the Reid family for earlier in the year his younger brother Lucien took the London ABA bantamweight title despite his lack of senior experience.

■ However, there was disappointment for two remaining West Ham hopes in the London finals when Aston Kazauskas and Mitchell Frearson suffered defeats in their semi finals on Saturday.

Kazauskas and Qual Khadmifi from the R.J.’s Boxing Club provided an all-action Class A 57 kg semi final with the advantage swaying between the pair in a close contest.

The points were in the balance at the final bell and the judges were split, but the majority verdict went to Khadmifi.

Frearson and Fisher BC entry Charlie Hinds produced an keenly-fought Class A 71kg duel with the West Ham hope finding the target with accurate, long range shots.

However, the South London boxer came back strongly landing his own two-fisted bursts to make sure of the points decision at the end.