THERE was a familiar abundance of lively sporting action, and much delight particularly for home supporters at Keighley Amateur Boxing Club’s end of season promotion at Victoria Hall.

The proceedings were sparked by two skills bouts whereby no official verdict is accorded and in which Eastburn’s Max Robinson against Rotherham’s Travis Graves and Keighley’s Jack Hinchcliffe against Oldham’s Jake Jackson both displayed sufficient fibre to indicate they certainly have a future in the sport.

Then, amid the official verdict contests, the Keighley promoting club had five of its boxers in action and of whom four were victorious.

First up for the hosts at 48kg was Jaydon Smith – a smart “in and out” mover. He particularly scored with an effective right cross and, although a bit wild and woolly in the closing stages, he had landed sufficient shots on target in order the clinch the decision over Castleford’s Isaac Fielding.

Up next at 51kg it was Kennedy Wood – son of Keighley’s former England international, Hartley Wood – and who displayed a similar kind of Hartley’s delicate skills to outscore his opponent, Harry Connelly of Bridlington.

Keighley’s only reverse was at 53kg, albeit in a creditable performance by Lewis Roberts against Castleford’s Hinkey Smith.

The other two contests involving Keighley boxers climaxed a fine and successful occasion.

At 71kg Thomas Burniston, particularly endowed with an impressive repertoire of left hooks and upper cuts, possessed the fire-power which proved decisive against the smart counter-punching Jack Scales of Leeds Market District.

Three standing counts – two of them late in the contest – resulted in a third-round stoppage victory in favour of the Keighley boxer.

Last of the home protagonists was Keighley’s female favourite Chelsea Heaps, with heaps of all-out action almost guaranteed.

Indeed, her bout at 52kg against Bridlington’s Charlotte Jarvis – herself immensely talented – mirrored in many ways with last year’s epic Commonwealth Games final involving England’s Nicola Adams and Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh.

Right from the opening bell, the pace and precision was phenomenal.

Both boxers achieved moments of ascendancy, the Bridlington girl – all launched with a Sharapova shriek – finding the target with some solid straight shots but the Keighlian’s frequent flurries finally proving just sufficient to influence the judges in her favour.

Other highly charged contests involving non-local boxers resulted in Rotherham’s Evan Colley achieving a second round stoppage victory over York’s Jamie Trotter at 55kg and Castleford’s Sam Holmes at 71kg producing a wonder wallop to prompt a first round stoppage over Jack Scales of Leeds Market District.

Pictures show: Jaydon Smith and opponent with chief guests…….former Bradford City and Huddersfield Town captain, Lee Duxbury and George Metcalf Keighley’s former Mayor and former Central Area boxing champion.

Thomas Burniston with chief guests, also former Commonwealth title contender, Bob Tuckett from St. Kitts who is now Leeds Market District coach.

Chelsea Heaps and opponent with chief guests.