AFTER an impressive 19 wins from 25 fights, St Ives ABC’s Bradley Chapman looks set to leave the amateur ring behind next month in order to go professional.

AFTER an impressive 19 wins from 25 fights, St Ives ABC’s Bradley Chapman looks set to leave the amateur ring behind next month in order to go professional.

He will make his final appearance as an amateur at the club’s next home show on Friday, April 15 and will hope to go out with a bang.

Chapman was defeated on points at the weekend in his first National ABA Championships zone final at the hands of Golden Ring’s Tommy Watson in Southampton.

The final margin after three rounds was 32-21 against Chapman which coach Steve Whitwell felt “seemed a bit wide.”

On the same night, Scott Pepper was outdone in Essex by Tommy Taylor of Eastgate ABC and, although the bout could have gone either way, he failed to stamp his authority on the bout and lost out on a majority decision.

Crowd pleaser Dan Meston won a unanimous decision at the expense of Adrian Walsh from Southend ABC at their home show.

But coach Whitwell said Meston needs to fight smarter to move up, saying: “He boxed very well in the first, but then forgot tactics in the second and went for the stoppage.

“He was way ahead going into the last round, but insisted on again getting a bit too involved in a scrap and heavy punches were exchanged, back and forth, until the bell sounded.

“It was a great bout for the fans, but he will need to start boxing a bit more if he is to improve against better boxers.”

Meanwhile in King’s Lynn, Tom Martin warmed up for his upcoming Junior ABA Championships quarter-final with a majority decision victory over Gold Star ABC’s Lee Kirby.

Looking ahead, Meston and Chapman will box at a show in Norwich next weekend and all of the club’s boxers will be in action at the St Ives Corn Exchange on April 15.

Tickets are priced at �15 and are available from Steve Whitwell on 07918 104819.