Zaman so close to ending impressive Goodhall’s unbeaten run

Len Whaley, Boxing Correspondent Thursday, October 25, 2012
11:24 AM

Fairbairn bantamweight Jan Zaman featured in one of the outstanding finals of the London ABA Novices championships at Grove Park on Sunday, but lost the points decision, writes Len Whaley.

In the Class A (under 10 bouts) 54kg final he made an all out effort to end the unbeaten run of Fisher’s Bobby Goodhall in an all-action final.

He piled on the pressure from the opening bell and landing solid punches forcing his rival to retreat, but the Bermondsey club boxer scored on the move to take the verdict.

There was also a final disappointment for another Fairbairn hope Nabiel Malik who faced Islington rival Steve Smart in the Class A 5lkg final.

It proved a closely contested final, but the north London boxer just held the edge to take a narrow points decision and the London title.

However, one Fairbairn hope does go through as a London champion as Riaz Noorgate took the Class B (up to 20 bouts) 54kg title on a walkover.

■ Two other Fairbairn entries Tendia Simbo and Kamal Raji made their exits in the London semi-finals on Saturday.

Simbo’s hopes in the Class A 81kg section were ended by powerful Lynn boxer Yak Aixeda who pressed home his attacks to take the points verdict and went on to lift the London title a day later.

Struggled

Raji struggled to find his best form in his Class B 67 kg semi-final encounter with Dale Youth club rival Chris Felix.

The Fairbairn boxer could not provide his usual pressure-punching attacks and it was the impressive Felix who landed the shots that clinched a good victory and set up his final success the following day.