BARRHEAD ABC’s head coach Mark Breslin believes the high standard at the club’s show proves the future is bright for local boxing.

Nearly 130 people packed into the Glen Community Hall in Neilston with the cream of Barrhead Amateur Boxing Club’s roster having the chance to showcase their skills on Saturday, May 20.

There was plenty of action to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats and Barrhead fighters were victorious in six of the eight scheduled fights the club were involved in.

Highlights included young Ciaran Lapsley who won the award for boxer of the night for his win over Steven Colbert (North Glasgow ABC), Kieran France who won on his debut and Luke McFadyean who defeated Marcus Brogan (Hawick ABC) in the warm-up for his British title fight this weekend.

Very much a community club, Barrhead ABC charges just £1 for kids to go along and with numbers at training on the up, Breslin says the future is bright with club coffers boosted by the show.

He said: “It was great that we were able to showcase how far the club has come. The club has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. The kids’ clubs that we run have seen numbers doubling since we started them.

“The club is really running at maximum capacity at the moment, which brings some difficulties but it shows how much people enjoy coming along. We only charge £1 for kids, that policy is very important to us to maintain, we’re all volunteers so every penny gets reinvested in the club.

“That show will keep us afloat for another year, it will buy us gloves, equipment and everything else we need.”

Breslin was conscious to match all his fighters up with more than capable opponents and the result was a testing night for the Barrhead boys, but one they came through with flying colours.

Breslin couldn’t hide his delight at his fighters’ displays.

He added: “It can be difficult to get all the guys matched up but it was a great night. People said about the fights that they were very evenly matched and that’s the way we like to do it.

“The goal is to put on an evening of entertainment and classy boxing and we’ve managed to achieve that. Some of the performances on the night were fantastic.

“Ciaran Lapsley was absolutely brilliant on the night and thoroughly deserved the best boxer of the night award. Ciaran France has a fantastic debut, he won every round and was very strong. Luke McFadyean has come leaps and bounds in the last two years,he’s excelled himself.

“He works really hard in the gym and is reaping the benefits of that.”

Results:

Ciaran Lapsley (Barrhead) beat Steven Colbert (North Glasgow)

Martin Finerty (Barrhead) lost to Frank Campbell (Greenock)

Matthew Gemmell (Barrhead) beat Kenzie Moir (Argo)

Ciaran France (Barrhead) beat Kurtis Bellew (Irvine Vineburgh)

Luke McFadyean (Barrhead) beat Marcus Brogan (Hawick)

Ryan Thomson (Barrhead) beat Louis Black (Argo)

Exhibition: Ross Flockhart (Barrhead) v Darren Tarr (Barrhead)

Kian O’Malley (Barrhead) beat Blaine McGregor (Leith Victoria)

Jason Harris (Barrhead) lost a split decision to Blair Rocks (Hamilton)