There were nigh-on 1000 spectators, 17 bouts, and one epic occasion to remember as the annual Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club show took place amid a cauldron of noise at The Pavilion on Saturday night, writes Fraser Watson.
 
 

Great night for the O’Sullivans

 
 
With visiting boxers coming from all over Wales, the clashes made for intense viewing, with Kyle O'Sullivan given the responsibility of closing the show and doing so in style by coming through a brutal bout with Aberman's Logan O'Neill.
 
It rounded off a special night for the O'Sullivan family, with Kyle's brothers Alfie and Sion having already triumphed earlier in the evening, and they were only denied a fourth success when the opponent of Alex O'Sullivan withdrew late on. Miley Flynn also had his bout cancelled in similar circumstances.
 
It was the eldest O'Sullivan sibling Sion who took the honour of Best Bout of the Night after getting a split decision against Dan Robst (Llanishen), while Max Williams won the Best Boxer of the Night award after coming through a war with Yazan Radan (Grange ABC).
 
 

Disappointment for youngsters – but glory for Merlins Bridge

 
 
There was slight disappointment for juniors Louie Taylor and Ashton Lewis as their fights were altered to exhibition contests. Taylor's opponent, Emil Preda (Grange ABC) missed weight which meant despite clearly being superior over three rounds, the Bridge boxer was denied an official win. Lewis and Elliot Bailey-Williams of Cardigan had their bout downgraded due to a technicality but still went full-blooded at each other in a fight worthy of being on the bill.
 
 
Of the 15 fights which were scored, Merlins Bridge prevailed in nine of them, and Graham Brockway and his team of coaches were left to reflect on an evening which again captivated the crowd and proved a stunning success.
 
 

Fight reports

 
 
Kyle O'Sullivan beat Logan O'Neill (Aberaman ABC) via unanimous decision
 
The clock was ticking towards midnight when the final pair hit the ring, and it was the away fighter who started quickly with an early flurry of punches. O'Sullivan responded though and finished the round by landing a superb combination and then clocked his opponent with a big right hand early in the second.
 
Back came O'Neill though and O'Sullivan took a standing count in the third after being pinned against the ropes, but his quicker hand speed proved pivotal in the closing moments and despite the tight nature of the contest, took a unanimous verdict.
 
 
Joshua Wall lost to Sean Robinson (Llanishen ABC) via a split decision
 
Both fighters played their part in a thunderous start, with a huge exchange in the corner to end the opening round. The ferocious pace continued in the second before Wall took a standing count in the third - and the intensity continued until the final bell. Unsurprisingly, the judges could not universally agree and it was Robinson who took a split decision.
 
 
Lewis Jones beat Marcel Tresler (Next Gen ABC) via stoppage
 
The evening's one heavyweight clash did not disappoint, with both fighters going hell for leather in search of a stoppage. It was Jones who lasted the pace, his opponent taking a standing count in both the second and the third rounds and when Jones caught him with another flurry, the referee stepped in to end matters.
 
 
Max Williams beat Yazan Radman (Grange ABC) via unanimous decision
 
After an injury lay-off, there was no sign of ring-rust from Williams as he put on a show to remember, landing two big combination flurries early on and expertly counter-punching his opponent. His head movement also proved superior and his display deservedly earned him the verdict.
 
 
Adam Lawrence lost to Rhys Kulmayer (Pembroke ABC) via split decision
 
Another bout that went to the wire as both were prominent with one-two combinations with the pace not slowing from the first bell to the last. The verdict could have gone either way, and it was Kulmayer who took it.
 
 
Sion O'Sullivan beat Dan Robst (Llanishen ABC) via split decision
 
The crowd was at fever pitch when O'Sullivan hit the ring, and his contest did not disappoint. Both fighters excelled as the exchanges went back-and-for, and Robst was pinned against the ropes in the final round before fighting his way out of trouble. The roar when O'Sullivan took a narrow decision spoke volumes - literally.
 
 
Gethin Roberts lost to Muhammad Ibrahim (Grange ABC) via unanimous decision
 
When Ibrahim dropped Roberts with a quick left-hook in the first round, a one-sided contest seemed on the cards. But to the credit of the Bridge fighter, he recovered and was in the ascendancy in the second. Ibrhahim edged the third though by landing more punches to secure the win, but Roberts stayed in it until the final bell.
 
 
Osian Warden beat Nathan Nacagilevu (Tylorstown ABC) via split decision
 
A bout which had the crowd on edge after Warden landed some clean early jabs, and after both fighters exchanged punishment, the Bridge boy unleashed a brief flurry in the closing seconds that proved critical as he took a split decision.







 

Junior reports:

 
 
Morgan Williams beat Cameron Davies (Bobby's Gym) via unanimous decision
 
 
It was an intense start and an even first round, but Williams lasted the pace far better and finished strongly to deservedly earn the decision.
 
 
Alfie O'Sullivan beat Ronnie Lewis (Port Talbot Bulldogs) via unanimous decision
 
Both youngsters exchanged early flurries but it was O'Sullivan with the cleaner work. After catching Lewis with a superb left in the third round, he took the win.
 
 
Ossian Evans beat Toby Lewis (MCL Boxing Academy) via unanimous decision
 
A ferocious start from Evans was halted when he slipped in the first, but he recovered from the fall and showed superior speed to his opponent - and his delight was evident when given the verdict.
 
 
Jacob Sherwood lost to Fletcher Davies (Cwmgors) via unanimous decision
 
Davies landed a big early right and kept in control from there, rebuffing Sherwood's late attacks to take victory.
 
 
Alfie Wandrum beat Ronnie Briggs (Tenby Sharks) via unanimous decision
 
It was Wandrum who controlled this one after landing a big hook early on, and he had Briggs pinned on the ropes in the second and although the Tenby man bravely fought back, this was a home win.
 
 
Charlie Hopkins lost to Ollie Jones (Cardigan ABC) via unanimous decision
 
Hopkins started quickly and was prepared to drop his hands to coax his opponent in, but Jones kept composed and attacked in the second. Hopkins came back with two big rights late on but Jones countered well and took the decision.
 
 
Amirah McGeown lost to Ally-Mae Lance (Tylorstown ABC) via unanimous decision
 
The only female bout opened the show, and both youngsters gave everything but it was Lance, on her 13th birthday, who landed more shots to prevail. Amirah is a determined young lady, however, and her time will come.